1923 Stutz Speedway Four Bearcat Roadster

At the inaugural 1911 Indianapolis 500, one of the first cars built by Harry C. Stutz, was driven by Gil Andersen to an impressive 11th place finish, earning the slogan, 'The Car That Made Good in A Day.' From 1915 to 1917, the 'White Squadron' racing team carried the Stutz banner, and earned the team prize at the 1915 Vanderbilt Cup and American Grand Prize races. Earl Cooper would go on to earn the most points and an unofficial national driver's championship.

Cooper's good fortune continued in 1916, and at the end of the season, he was victorious in a 50-mile match race at Ascot in Los Angeles. In 1917, AAA-sanctioned racing was curtailed after United States' entry into World War I. Cooper, however, entered his Stutz No. 8 into six contests, winning four of them. He once again accumulated the most points that season, but the AAA was reluctant to name a champion due to the somber wartime environment.

Years later, the Stutz Motor Car Company came under the direction of Hungarian-born engineer Fredrick Moskovics. He completely redesigned the Stutz car yet kept the car's racing heritage.

The Stutz Speedway Four was in production from 1923 through 1924. Stutz produced two Speedway models – the Four and the Six. Surprisingly, the 360 cubic-inch Four-Cylinder engine was more powerful than the larger Six-Cylinder unit. Eight body styles were offered.

This particular example is a Speedway Four powered by the 360 CID four-cylinder, T-head, 16 valve engine fitted with a single Stromberg carburetor and offering 88 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission and rear drum brakes.

The car wears an older sympathetic restoration, and has spent three decades in a mid-west museum.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017