1915 Stutz Model 4F Bulldog

The Stutz Model 4-F was available in six body styles with the most memorable being the legendary Bearcat. All Model 4-F's rested on a 118-inch wheelbase and were powered by a 16-valve T-head four-cylinder engine that displaced 390 cubic inches. The engine had a 4.75-inch bore and a 5.5-inch stroke and was rated 38.1 horsepower by the NACC formula, but it really produced at least 60 horsepower at only 1500 RPM. There was a three-speed manual transaxle and two-wheel mechanical drum brakes. The other body styles available on the Model 4-F include a roadster, coupe, Bulldog, Sedan, and a five-passenger Touring car. The suspension was live axles with semi-elliptical leaf springs and Westinghouse spring shackles.

The Bearcat cars and the success of the famed 'White Squadron' racing team of Gil Anderson, Earl Cooper, Howdy Wilcox, and Barney Oldfield had sales go from just 266 cars in 1911-1912, to 1,079 in 1915.

The Bulldog chassis, sharing the same platform as the rest of the Model 4-F cars, had four doors and seating for four. They had full windshields, a full folding top, and side curtains and offered performance in a practical and comfortable package.

Theo D. Moore acquired this Bulldog in the late 1930s or early 1940. It would remain with Mr. Moore for many years. It has never required restoration and is painted in Mercedes Red paint which was applied by Moore in the late 1940s or 1950s. The interior is burgundy leather.

This Model 4-F took part in the first antique auto show held at the 71st Regiment Armory in New York City in 1948. It was driven from Red Bank t Hershey, PA, in 1954 to attend the first AACA Fall Meet.

T.D. Moore passed away in the early 1960s, and the Bulldog was then sold to Maine collector Richard Cushing Paine Jr. Nearly three decades later it was acquired by Paul Quinn, who began a mechanical re-commissioning. In 2003 it won the Most Significant Car award at the Stowe, Vermont, meet. The current owner acquired the car from Quinn and has brought it to auction in 2009.

Apart from the four-seat coachwork, the only difference between a Bulldog and a Bearcat is the set of Westinghouse oil-damped, air-cushion spring shackles. It has the same engine and gearbox and has a top speed in the neighborhood of 80 mph. This is the only Bulldog known to have survived the test of time.

In 2009, this Stutz Bulldog Demi-Tonneau was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Scottsdale, Arizona, where it was estimated to sell for $450,000 - $550,000. The lot was sold for the sum of $352,000, including the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2009