1927 Stutz Blackhawk For Sale in St Louis, MO, 2146377364 Tweet

Harry C Stutz is one of the handful of automotive pioneers who are considered among the greats such as Ettore Bugatti Harry Miller and the Duesenberg Brothers. A farm boy from Ohio with a natural gift and fascination with machinery Stutz earned a local reputation as the boy who could fix anything. He left his home at 18 to pursue a career in engineering and quickly made a name for himself in industry as an innovative creative perfectionist. Right from the start Stutz saw the importance of marketing his automobiles through racing - in fact the very first car that left the Indianapolis plant was delivered straight to the track to compete in the Indianapolis 500 mile race! That car finished 11th suffering no mechanical issues or failures. It earned the slogan The car that made good in a day. Quite!One year later the company was renamed Stutz Motor Company. Stutz was respected by his employees but they knew that if a single tool were left out of place or a work bench was left untidy after closing they would hear about it the next day. They strove to build the best they could and their efforts paid off on race tracks around the world. The Stutz was seen as one of the finest cars money could buy. In 1919 facing a need to raise capital to fund production he sold a portion of his business but quickly grew disgusted with his lack of control over the business and he soon departed. Following a stock scandal bankruptcy and another change of ownership Stutz Motor Company executives struck gold when they hired an equally gifted engineer by the name of Frederic Moscovics.Moscovics quickly refocused the floundering company and developed the Safety Stutz chassis for 1926. His new chassis had a double drop that gave a low center of gravity excellent handling and stability as well as a rakish look. Four-wheel hydraulic brakes were fitted as well as a worm-drive rear axle. The new Vertical Eight straight 8 engine had a single overhead camshaft driven by a link-belt chain and twin-plug ignition. It was smooth powerful and very quiet. Under Moscovics direction Stutz regained much of the success they enjoyed under the leadership of Harry C. Stutz. For 1927 a Vertical Eight equipped model AA set a 24-hour speed record averaging 68 mph over 24 hours - it was a test that proved its worth in 1928 when a Stutz finished 2nd to the Bentley Boys at the 24 Hours of LeMans.This magnificent Stutz AA Black Hawk Vertical 8 features a beautiful sporting boat-tail speedster body. The boat-tail design debuted in 1927 as the very first American car with this style of coachwork. Discovered many years ago in Iowa as a complete but neglected car by California doctor and Stutz enthusiast Alvin J. Harris. When Dr. Harris arrived to see the car it was almost too far gone to restore. Its original convertible coupe body had deteriorated to the point that while all there it would need a complete replacement. After a night of soul searching Dr. Harris decided to move forward with acquiring the car and would restore it a Speedster as there were so few originals.The car has been carefully restored to a high standard presenting very well and ready for touring or show. The body is finished in a subtle two tone red/maroon which is set off by dark red wire wheels with chrome spokes and a red cockpit. The paint finishes and panel fit are excellent and chrome trim and detailing live up the quality of the rest of the car. The body has been painstakingly reproduced and features interesting details such as the leather skirts for the front cycle fenders a golf bag door that follows the contours of the boattail body and an integrated trunk in the tail. A simple but elegant black Haartz cloth top is included to keep occupants reasonably dry should the weather turn foul on the road. The body is well detailed with drum headlights wind wings dual taillights and accessories include fashionable dual side-mount spares a winged Stutz radiator mascot dual Pilot Ray driving lamps as well as a folding windscreen for the full road-racer effect. The bolt-on aluminum steps plates were preferred by Stutz in place of heavier full running boards.Inside the sparse cabin the gorgeous red leather upholstery is in excellent condition and features matching red carpeting. The simple dash features comprehensive instrumentation and an utterly fantastic wood steering wheel is mounted to a chrome column. For touring luggage can be stowed either via the side mounted golf club door or the small trunk in the rear of the body.The glorious Stutz Vertical Eight is a marvel of refinement and power for the period. It also looks particularly good properly adorned in bright green with chrome cam cover and accessories. The engine bay of this Stutz is a fascinating lesson in clever engineering and fine restoration work. The undercarriage is similarly well-presented with a fully painted chassis to match the body showing signs of on-road enjoyment. Frank Moskovics brilliant machine was years ahead of its time in terms of handling and road manners making the BB Blackhawk an excellent choice for touring and rally enthusiasts.Few American cars of the period can compare to the Stutz AAs sophisticated handling impressive performance and sporting pedigree. This outstanding example highlights the Speedster coachwork with a lovingly maintained restoration. This wonderful Stutz invites regular use and represents an outstanding opportunity to acquire a beautiful example of this highly important pre-war sports car. Offers welcome and trades considered.For additional details please view this listing directly on our website https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7787-1927-stutz-blackhawk/