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Henry C Stutz created the Bearcat which became one of the very first supercars and an early American icon. It was based on Stutz's competitive 1911 Indy car and was a raced as well as disguised as a spartan passenger car.

The Bearcat used a six liter, inline-4 Wisconson engine. It cast cylinders in pairs and used a T-head design which put the intake and exhaust on opposite sides of the cylinders. This initially offered 50 hp, however a later version offered later 80 hp.

Like the Amercan Underslung Stutz engineered earlier, the Bearcat featured an underslung suspension which unusually attached the chassis below the axles. This lowered the entire car and offered a low center of gravity which helped the cars win many auto races from its inception.

The Bearcat featured sparse, attractive coachwork with Stutz drum lights, an S & M spot lamps and a motometer bearing the slogan 'The car that made good in a day'. The open concept interior offered no doors and a tiny monocle windscreen was all that protected the driver from the elements.

With its motorsport perigree and modern design, the Bearcat became a status symbol for the wealthy, and many were ordered from 1914 through 1917. For many, the Bearcat is the ultimate brass era sports car only rivaled by the Mercer Raceabout.

Chassis 2250 - Owned by a number of prominent collectors, this Bearcat is one of the few pre-1915 cars that remain. It has completed little miles since its comprehensive restoration and will be offered at the David Gooding Pebble Beach Auction on August 20th 2006 for $400 000 to $500 000 USD.

Chassis & Sales

1915 Stutz Bearcat 4F2658 - sold for $330,000 This example carries a fascinating history, having been discovered in a shipping container in England during the early 1980s. When found, the car sported several European accessories that may have been installed when the car was first shipped to England many years ago. A California-based collector imported the car to the United States, and shortly after its return, the car was restored and driven for several years in California before being so... more
Gallery: 2010 Vintage Cars of Meadow Book by RM Auctions

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