Stutz Bearcat

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Stutz Bearcat

The original Stutz Bearcat was produced from 1912 through 1916 by Stutz Motor Company. It used a 6388 cc I4 engine. Later models were produced through the early 20s. They differed from the first versions by having enclosed bodies, first with short "step over" sideswalls, later with opening doors.

Essentially, the Bearcats were a shorter (120" wheelbase vs 130"), lighter version of the standard Stutz passenger cars chassis. Common with racing and sports cars of the period, it featured minimal bodywork consisting of a "dog house" hood, open bucket seats, a tiny "monocle" windscreen in front of the driver, and a cylindrical fuel tank on a short rear deck. Production Bearcats differed from the factory "White Squadron" racers by having fenders, lights and a trunk. Overall, its low weight, balance, and power made it an excellent racer. For example, in 1912, Stutz Bearcats won 25 of the 30 auto races in which they were entered. In 1915 a stock Bearcat was also the car used in Erwin "Cannon Ball" Baker's record coast-to-coast drive, inspiration for the later Cannonball Run outlaw race and film spin-offs. Baker drove his Bearcat from California to New York in eleven days, seven hours, and fifteen minutes, shattering the previous record.

Owning a Stutz Bearcat became a famous status symbol for the wealthy of the era. In 1914 it was priced at $2000, much less than some imported European sports cars, but about two to three times the cost of the average American "basic" car (with the Ford Model T of the day priced at $550).

The history and image of the Stutz Bearcat made it one of the better known antique cars to later generations of Americans. It was often associated with the "Roaring 20s" and college students of that period. It was frequently mentioned with stereotypical accoutrements of the period such as raccoon coats and illicit "bathtub gin".

That fame persisted well into the late 20th Century and the car's name was often used by way of comparison by modern makes of cars including Nash, Triumph and Mercury (automobile). A Triumph ad asked the question "Is the TR 3 the Stutz Bearcat of the 60s?" and showed a Triumph driver, complete with raccoon coat, next to an early 20s Bearcat, in a campus setting. The Nash ad from the early 1950s has the line.. "For the boy who wanted a Stutz Bearcat." The message being that a child in the 20s would be an adult 30 years later, and would buy a new Nash to satisfy his car lust.

Oklahoma City businessman Howard D. Williams attempted to capitalize on the model's fame. In the late 1960s, he built and marketed a fiber-glass replica of the car, based on the chassis of an International Harvester Scout utility vehicle. It was broadly similar in outline (bucket seats, exposed fuel tank) but differed from the original in having left hand drive and many visual differences. It was aimed at luxury car buyers as a unique runabout, but its high price limited sales. It's thought about a dozen were completed. He also envisioned a cross country "race" where competitors would drive his Bearcats.

Famed Hollywood car customizer George Barris made two much more accurate replicas for the short-lived 1971 television series Bearcats!

Contents

[edit] Modern Bearcat

The Bearcat name was quickly resurrected for the new Stutz Motor Car of America, but production lagged behind the 1970 Blackhawk. The original 1967 design of the new Bearcat was based on Virgil Exner's Duesenberg "Revival Car" concept, but a production Bearcat was not manufactured until 1979. That model used the GM A platform shared with the Blackhawk, and was essentially a Targa top coupe.

The Bearcat switched with the Blackhawk to the GM B platform the next year, with the exterior continuing the Blackhawk's exposed trunk-mounted spare tire. The base platform was now the GM F platform for 1987, with the trailing edge of the spare now forming part of the car's rear bumper.

Just 12 or 13 modern Bearcats were produced. Notable owners included the Sultan of Brunei, who owned two.

[edit] Fictional owners of this car

In addition, episodes of the radio sitcoms Life with Luigi and Burns and Allen had stories in which the heroes thereof wound up buying Stutz Bearcats.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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 This article or section appears to contradict itself about year numbers (in introduction & "Classic Bearcat" section), see this article's talk page, thread "Contradictory ...". Please help fix this problem. (May 2009)
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Stutz road car timeline, 1910s–present
Type 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Entry-level Bearcat WWII Bearcat
8-Cylinder
Personal Luxury Blackhawk
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