Beschreibung:

Stutz was unquestionably one of the greatest of all automobiles built in the United States. The first car to bear the Stutz name debuted at the very first Indianapolis 500 in 1911. That first Stutz was essentially the prototype of a new passenger car. Yet it finished in eleventh ahead of many dedicated racing cars, thus giving birth to the famous slogan: "The Car that Made Good in a Day." By late 1911 Stutz automobiles-based on the car that ran so well at the Speedway-were being produced by the Ideal Motor Car Company of Indianapolis. Initial publicity was so favorable that according to historian William J. Greer, by June 1912, Stutz was able to "generate the funds necessary to buy out the interests of an original investor. " In the ensuing reorganization, Harry Stutz emerged as president and a member of the Board of Directors. Those early Stutz cars were offered in both four-cylinder, 50hp and six-cylinder 60hp form. Although bodies offered included a variety of roadster, touring, coupe and toy tonneau models, the sporty Bearcat models immediately caught the attention of both the public and the sporting customer. In the mid-teens, money for expansion came from investors, including Wall Street Speculator Allan Ryan. Harry Stutz was well on his way to loosing control of his company and he left the firm bearing his name in 1919. After several years of financial turmoil, Frederick Moskovics joined the company in 1925 and held the presidency until early 1929. Although the glory years of the T-Head Bearcats were gone, the company's glorious swansong-the straight-eight DV-32 lay ahead. Announced in 1931 as a 1932, the DV-32 was so named because of its 32-valve, double-overhead camshaft engine. The big 322 cubic-inch eight produced 156 horsepower with help from an Schebler twin throat carburetor and dual ignition. The model was available in three different chassis lengths, ranging from 116-145-inches. No matter the wheelbase, each DV-32 was fitted with four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes, complete with a booster, and solid axles and longitudinal leaf springs front and rear. The stunning car on offer is a DV-32 Bearcat Speedster, of which only 12 are said to have been built during the first year of production. Based on the number "1" noted on much of the car's woodwork it is believed that this may be the very first example of a Bearcat Speedster built on the 134.5-inch chassis. Like every other DV-32 Bearcat, advertising claimed that this car came with an affidavit stating that the car had been tested at 100 mph. Although the early history of this particular-and very genuine Bearcat Speedster isn't known--based on the traces of the original tri-tone paint scheme and the numbering on the woodwork, the owner/restorer speculates that this may well have been a salon car. He also quotes as believing that the car was delivered new in New York, although no documentation has yet been uncovered to support this. The fully documented history of this car really began in 1951 when collector Bill Johnson of Woodbury, NJ, acquired it. While in Johnson's ownership, the collector commissioned extensive body repairs. When the bodywork was undertaken, craftsman Larry Amsley produced three replica bodies. Of the four cars completed on DV-32 chassis, there is no question that the car on offer is the original Bearcat Speedster once owned by Johnson. Refinished in Red with black fenders, red wire wheels and black and red interior, the Johnson Stutz was featured in Automobile Quarterly, Volume 2, Number 1 from Spring 1963. Johnson owned the car until 1978 when it briefly passed through the hands of dealer Leo Gephart, who placed it with Dr. Donald Vesley of Tampa, Florida. In the hopes of purchasing a Duesenberg, in September 1984 Dr. Vesley sent the Stutz speedster to auction at the annual Auburn fall meet, where Richard Raps of Webster, MA acquired it. Unfortunately, Raps died the following year and his collection of 25 vehicles sat until the estate was liqui