1926 Stutz Vertical Eight AA

The Stutz name has always been synonymous with automotive performance. By the mid-1920s, the legacy of Harry C. Stutz was legendary.

After establishing his automotive credentials with the creation of the 1905 American Underslung, Stutz had idea to build a motorcar bearing his own name. Unveiling his newest vehicle at the Indianapolis 500 No, Harry entered the new 'Stutz' into the race rather than just displaying it in the infield. The Stutz finished eleventh after 442 minutes had elapsed.

Unfortunately, his vehicle didn't make it in the top tenth that Stutz had hoped, he was quick to advertise this new vehicle as 'The Car That Made Good in a Day'. The Stutz Motor Car Company was created from the vision of Harry Stutz and his dream to produce a production version of his Indianapolis racecar. Due to the purchase of numerous company shares by stock market speculator Ryan who cared more about making money, then quality vehicles, Stutz eventually cut his ties before Ryan went bankrupt. Charles M. Schwab, the president of Bethlehem Steel at the time, was responsible for saving the Stutz Motor Car Company line.

In the early twenties, Schwab had unsuccessfully tried to enter the family car market.

Designed by Frederic Moskovics, the Model AA Vertical Eight was introduced in 1926. Responsible for returning the Stutz brand back into the luxury-performance field, Schwab Capturing some of the essence of previous Stutz automobiles, the new AA was in a league of its own. Able to sit lower on its large wheels than competitive cars, the vehicle had a specified Timken worm-drive axle that was combing with a double-drop frame. The Vertical Eight featured hydraulic brakes and 'safety' glass that earned it the name 'Safety Stutz'. The sedan offered a mid-range model that was more affordable for typical family of the 1920's.

Fitted with the newly designed Vertical 8 engine, it was a single overhead cam straight eight that displaced 287 cubic inches. With the help of 'twin ignition' (two spark plugs per cylinder) the new mill delivered 92 horsepower. As luxury buyers heard good reports regarding the model AA's performance, along with its sleek looks, sales jumped to 5,000. Priced at over 3,000, in the beginning it had appeared that the investment would pay off. Schwab had invested much into the development of the V8, but unfortunately sales fell off drastically due to complaints about the Timken hydraulic brakes. The brakes were increasingly temperamental and unstable, though several modifications were made. In 1927 the model was improved by increasing the horsepower to 95 and the engine displacements to 298 cubic inches, but it was too late.

During the stock market crash of 1929, the shrinking demand for super-luxury vehicles had reached its end.

By Jessica Donaldson