varena Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 I have a 1914 Stutz Bearcat replica that was custom-made around 1931. It has a Hudson Flat Head Straight Six engine that was rebuilt back in the mid-80's. It reads "Power Dome" on the head cover and 44600H on the engine block. The car has not been driven for many years but the engine still runs well. The car needs some cosmetic and mechanical work but I am not able to do it so I was thinking about selling or trading the car. Before I do I wanted to see if anyone can help me with any information on the car, or the best way to try and sell/trade it? I have attached a bunch of pictures. Thanks for your help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varena Posted August 4, 2008 Author Share Posted August 4, 2008 I should have said in my posting that I <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="font-weight: bold">think </span></span>this is a 1914 Stutz Bearcat...I could be off on the year. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexRiv_63 Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 The radiator and headlights may be from an early Stutz but the rest looks like it is late 20s early 30s, taillights look like Pierce Arrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varena Posted August 4, 2008 Author Share Posted August 4, 2008 Thank you for your reply and information! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_OToole Posted August 4, 2008 Share Posted August 4, 2008 This is one of those cars that defies normal values. In one sense, it is not an original car and therefore of limited value. On the other hand, it is an artifact of 1931 and deserves preservation on its own merits.The best way to put a value on it, would be some sort of auction sale. Ebay or one of the old car auctions. But what you could expect to get, I could not say.The more history of the car and its builder you can dig up the better as far as generating interest and value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varena Posted August 5, 2008 Author Share Posted August 5, 2008 Hi Rusty:You bring up some good points! I appreciate your feedback. I will most likely end up putting the car for sale on e-Bay so that I can get a fair price for it.Thanks again,Vince Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 To second what Rusty said, the real value in this car is that it is a 1930s special. Anything that you can provide in the way of history and documentation that can support that claim is very important. The exact same car advertised as a recent put together is worth 25% of one that is verified to have been built in the 1930s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alsancle Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 The other point I should make is not to market the car as a "stutz" replica. I would market it as a 1930s Special as that is really what it is and there is a better market for early hot rods & specials then "replicas". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivan Saxton Posted August 5, 2008 Share Posted August 5, 2008 Vince, my instinct is to look for detail in the components that might indicate their origin, but I don't have enough to go on. Stutz front axles from certainly 1918 had centre distance between spring centre-bolts of 28 1/2". The general style is similar to Stutz, except that the top of the end where the stub axle attaches through the king pin is much larger than most cars because there is a taper roller bearing. Front brakes are most unusual on this slyle of axle, as they are difficult to engineer and fit. I have not seen Hugh Guthrie's 1916 Bearcat since the F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne about 6 months ago. I have a 1956 photo of the car, but cannot see clearly enough to know if it is different. Hugh's car has a slight dip in the middle of the axle beam. My 1922 is straight, but heavier than yours so I doubt whether the front axle of your car is Stutz. Radiator badge is likely an original, but the radiator itself and its mountings look nothing like. The fuel tank mounted behind the seats is a low-mounted rear one from some car, but I doubt that it is Stutz. The back crossmember of the chassis forms a cover/shield for the fuel tank on Stutz, (certainly on 1921-23 cars), with holes for the filler and the level indicator. That reserve switch-tap in the middle is not Stutz of those years. If you had a scan of shots of the chassis frame someone might be able to pick what it was made from, but it probably doesn't matter. It is someone's special that they made, and was their pride and joy. Those angle tubes from the front cross-member to the chassis siderails are reminiscent of early RR Siver Ghost, but witout typical RR style detail.Regards, Ivan Saxton Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarlLaFong Posted August 6, 2008 Share Posted August 6, 2008 Could it be a complete Hudson chassis converted to a speedster??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
varena Posted August 6, 2008 Author Share Posted August 6, 2008 Good Day Ivan:Thank you very much for your insightful comments. It appears that the car should be descirbed as "1930's Special" as one of the other readers noted earlier, and not as a Stutz despite the badge.Best regards,Vince Arena Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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