1915 Stutz Model 4F Bearcat

This Stutz Bearcat was discovered in a shipping container in England during the early 1980s. The vehicle had several European accessories at the time that may have been installed when the car was first shipped to England. The car was imported to the United States by a California-based collector and was soon restored and driven for several years in California before being sold to a new owner. The car found several more owners over the years before being acquired by an owner in 2004. A thorough, ground-up, professional restoration soon began, which included a complete engine rebuild. A short time after the work was completed, the car was shown at the Meadow Brook Hall Concours d'Elegance in 2005, where it competed in the featured 'Magnificent Brass Cars' class. The current owner acquired the car in 2006.

This Bearcat is powered by a 390 cubic-inch, four-cylinder, T-head engine cast in pairs and capable of producing 50 horsepower. There is a three-speed selective sliding transaxle and two-wheel mechanical rear brakes.

In 2010, this Bearcat was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Meadowbrook, presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $275,000 - $350,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $330,000, inclusive of the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2010

This 1915 Stutz Model 4F Bearcat was discovered in England in 1982, resting in a shipping container and wearing a 1920s-style body. After performing an inspection, Paul Freehill of Stutz Specialties in Fort Wayne, Indiana, declared the gas tank as an original, correct 1915 Bearcat unit. He also found the frame to be the correct 118-inch span, leading to the assumption that this was originally a Bearcat. Mr. Freehill built a correct 1915 Bearcat body and shipped it to England, where it was mounted on the chassis.

The car returned to the United States in the mid-1980s, having been purchased by Willis Boyd of Santa Ana, California, who completed a fresh restoration. It later passed through the collections of Charles LeMaitre and James Bradley. In 2005 the car received further restoration work, including an engine rebuild by Charlie Troutman. Mr. Bradley displayed the Bearcat in 2005 at the Meadowbrook Concours d'Elegance as part of the Magnificent Brass Cars class. It then entered a Southwester collection before John Muckel acquired it in 2010. In 2011 it was shown at the Ironstone Concours, where it was judged Best in Class and Open Best of Show.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2020