1926 Stutz Vertical Eight AA Sedan

The early years of automobile production were exciting times, but for many companies, they were also traumatic, filled with corporate instability and economic turmoil. For the Stutz Motor Car Company, they endured both good and bad times. In the early 1920s, Harry Stutz left the Stutz Motor Car Company, and the company came under the direction of Hungarian-born engineer Fredrick Moskovics. Moskovics completely redesigned the Stutz car, giving it a new eight-cylinder, overhead-cam engine, a double-drop chassis frame, a worm gear rear axle, safety glass, and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. This system was termed 'hydrostatic' and it used water as an anti-freeze additive, but it was used for one year only.

In comparison to its competitors, the Stutz rode several inches lower and was somewhat 'boxy.' They soon became known as the 'Safety Stutz' with the 'Vertical Eight' engine, which were terms that would be used for the remainder of the company's life.

This vehicle is a Five-Passenger Sedan that was restored to CCCA Premier Award-winning condition in the early 21st century. It is finished in black and two shades of blue and features a broadcloth interior. The engine is a SOHC eight-cylinder unit displacing 287 cubic inches and offering 90 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2014