1923 Stutz Speedway Four

The Bearcats are renowned for their capabilities and proven racing performance. A prototype Stutz Bearcat was entered into the 1911 International Sweepstakes race, now known as the Indianapolis 500. Racers raced around the 2.5-mile dirt track 200 times. In the end, the Stutz had managed an impressive 11th-place finish. The following year, the Bearcat was released to the public in a nearly identical configuration. Privateers quickly began amassing victories in all types of racing events. The reputation of the Stutz Motor Car Company quickly began to escalate, and before long, thousands of vehicles had been produced.

Harry C. Stutz left his company in 1919 but continued in the automotive business. He formed the Stutz Fire Company and the H.C.S. Motor Car Company. The car company continued to produce performance machines, though slightly more refined than the stripped-down racers of the past.

This 1923 Stutz Bearcat is powered by a KLDH-T 365 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine, capable of producing nearly 90 horsepower. The engine is accompanied by a three-speed manual transaxle.

A year later, the Bearcat model line was treated to even more horsepower and aerodynamic features. A six-cylinder engine provided superior power over its four-cylinder predecessor. The example shown here, with its four-cylinder unit, is a competitive machine but still retains a degree of sophistication and comfort.

by Dan Vaughan

Bearcat Roadster

After introducing a new 'detachable head' 4-cylinder engine, moving to right-hand drive and shifting to a 130-inch wheelbase in the early 1920s, Stutz revived the Bearcat name for this roadster. Along with hundreds of other cars in the Barney Pollard collection, it was saved from the World War II scrap drive and stored standing on its rear bumper to save space.

Roadster
Chassis number: KL12499DH
Engine number: D12504H

This is an original 1923 Stutz Speedway Roadster, a favorite of wealthy college students when new. This Speedway Roadster has a 130-inch wheelbase. This Speedway Roadster is an original solid California car. The only evidence of rust is on the battery carrier due to acid corrosion and was the wood is nearly all original, including the folding top-bows.

On early Stutz vehicles, the engine and chassis number frequently were not matched when assembled by the manufacturer. The Speedway Roadster came equipped with a powerful 88 horsepower, 4-cylinder, 361 cubic-inch, T-head engine. This engine featured a detachable cylinder head. Its massive high compression cylinder head measured 11 inches x 26 inches and was 3 inches thick. It was equipped with twin camshafts, sixteen valves, a Delco dual ignition distributor, and a Stromberg carburetor. It is capable of speeds up to 80 mph and was the epitome of style and speed in its day.

Bearcat Roadster
Chassis number: 13253
Engine number: D13259H

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 Dan Vaughan

The Stutz Bearcat was produced from 1914 through 1924. The first version was produced from 1914 to 1917 and was powered by a 6388 cc four-cylinder engine. The Bearcat was a creation inspired by an Indy sports car racer built by the Stutz Motor Company in 1911. It was powered by a 361 cubic-inch four-cylinder engine that produced 50 horsepower. The Bearcat continued the tradition of lightweight construction, a potent engine, and superior performance. The vehicle utilized an 'underslung' design which allowed the vehicle to be constructed lower than most vehicles, sitting closer to the ground. They were void of unnecessary amenities, had no doors, and only a small 'monocle' windscreen to protect the driver. It weighed just 4500 pounds and rested on a 120-inch wheelbase. There was usually seating for two and no top to protect the driver or passenger from the elements.

In 1912 the Stutz Bearcats proved their potential by winning 25 out of the 30 races in which they were entered. Their slogan was 'The car that made good in one day'. This was a popular slogan and is still remembered by many even to this day. The title was adorned on Harry C Stutz in 1911 when his driver, Gil Anderson, placed 11th at the Indianapolis 500, an amazing accomplishment and one that immediately inspired sales. The car had been built in just five weeks and was the first automobile to bear the name 'Stutz'. At Indianapolis, it had averaged 110 km/h (about 68 mph) and was only beaten by vehicles with engines much larger than its own.

A disgruntled buyer of a Stutz complained to the Stutz Company that Mercers were beating his car. In response, the Stutz Company set out to be the coast-to-coast record. In 1915, Erwin George 'Cannonball' Baker drove a Bearcat from San Diego to New York in 11 days, 7 hours, and 15 minutes. This broke the previous record. Baker went on to set 143 distance records. Sales continued to climb. A Wall Street investor spear-headed by Allan A. Ryan bought a controlling interest in Stutz. This allowed more capital and allowed Stutz to expand its manufacturing facilities. Harry Clayton Stutz sold his interest in the company in 1919. He turned his attention to two new endeavors, the Stutz Fire Engine Company and the H.C.S. Motor Car Company.

The production of the Stutz Bearcat continued until 1924. The car continued its tradition of being a sports car. It was fast and had excellent performance for the era. The clutch was said to be so stiff that it prevented women from driving the vehicle - many said this was a 'man's car.' The two-wheel mechanical brakes also required much force to operate.

The Stutz Company stayed in business until 1935, when it was forced out of business due to the Great Depression. In 1923, Frederick Ewan Moskowics became the president of the Stutz Motor Car Company. Under his direction, the company was repositioned as a company that produced elegant sedans renowned for safety. Essentially, he turned the he-man cars into luxury beauties. In 1929 Moskowics resigned and was succeeded by Edgar S. Gorrell.

by Dan Vaughan