Stutz Blackhawk
| Stutz Blackhawk | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Stutz Motor Company |
| Production | 1971–1987 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Personal Luxury car |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 302 Windsor 350 V8 351 Windsor T/A 6.6 6.6. Litre 425 V8 429 Cobra Jet 454 Super Sport 455 Rocket 460 Cleveland 472 V8 500 V8 |
| First generation 1971 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1971 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door convertible 2-door coupe |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 429 Cobra Jet 454 Super Sport 455 Rocket 460 Cleveland 472 V8 500 V8 |
| Second Generation 1972 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1972 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door convertible 2-door coupe |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 429 Cobra Jet 454 Super Sport 455 Rocket 460 Cleveland 472 V8 500 V8 |
| Third Generation 1973 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1973 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door convertible 2-door coupe |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 429 Cobra Jet 454 Super Sport 455 Rocket 460 Cleveland 472 V8 500 V8 |
| Fourth Generation 1974-1976 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1974–1976 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door convertible 2-door coupe |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 429 Cobra Jet 454 Super Sport 455 Rocket 460 Cleveland 472 V8 500 V8 |
| Fifth Generation 1977-1979 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1977–1979 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door convertible 2-door coupe |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 302 Windsor 350 V8 351 Windsor T/A 6.6 6.6 Litre 425 V8 460 Cleveland |
| Sixth Generation 1980-1984 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1980–1984 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door convertible 2-door coupe |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 302 Windsor 350 V8 351 Windsor |
| Seventh Generation 1985-1987 | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Production | 1985–1987 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 2-door convertible 2-door coupe |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 302 Windsor 350 V8 351 Windsor |
The Stutz Blackhawk was an American luxury car manufactured from 1971 through 1987. The Stutz Motor Company was revived in August 1968 by New York banker James O'Donnell. Virgil Exner designed the car, which was prototyped by Ghia at a cost over US$300,000. The Blackhawk debuted in January 1970 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Approximately 500–600 had been manufactured by the time production ended in 1987. The 1972 suggested retail price was US$23,000; adjusted for inflation, approximately $118,631 in 2008 dollars. In 1973, just one year later, the price almost doubled to US$43,000.
With a steel body hand built in Torino, Italy and greater than 19 feet long, the production Blackhawk used Pontiac Grand Prix running gear, Pontiac's 7.5 L (455 in³) V8 engine, and a GM TH400 automatic transmission. With its engine tuned to produce 425 hp (317 kW) and 420 ft·lbf (570 N·m), the 5000 lb (2300 kg) Blackhawk could accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 8.4 seconds with a 130 mph (210 km/h) top speed, delivering 8 miles per gallon (30 L/100 km). Later Blackhawks used Pontiac's 403 and 350.
Exner's design included a spare tire that protruded through the trunklid and separate headlights. The interior included gold plated trim and birds eye maple. All early Blackhawks were coupes, but rare sedans were produced later. In 1980, the Blackhawk was redesigned for the Pontiac Bonneville chassis.
Owners of the car
The first production car was purchased by Elvis Presley (who later bought four more), with other famous owners including Sammy Davis Jr., Evel Knievel, Robert Goulet, Larry Holmes, Willy Nelson, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Lucille Ball, Wilson Pickett (1974), Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Al Pacino, Frank Sinatra, Joseph Denney, Wayne Newton, and H.B. Halicki. Frank Sinatra had vied with Elvis for the first car. Each car included a dash plaque naming its original owner.
Fictional owners
- Bill "Blaze" Blazejowski (played by Michael Keaton) in the movie, Night Shift. The 1981 model is featured in the movie. The car appears to be a four door model.
- In the movie 8mm, James Gandolfini's character Eddie Poole has a black Stutz Blackhawk.
- In the movie Never Die Alone, DMX's character King David owns a Stutz Blackhawk, which is then inherited by David Arquette's character Paul Paskoff.
- An episode of Dragonball GT features the appearance of an escape vehicle with a remarkable likeness to the Stutz Blackhawk.
References
- "Blackhawk". The Internet Guide to Stutz cars history and models. Retrieved March 1, 2005.