LOT 71 *
1933 Stutz DV-32 Sedan Registration no. not UK registered Chassis no. DV64 1595
Estimate: £60,000 - £80,000
Lot 71*
1933 Stutz DV-32 Sedan Registration no. not UK registered Chassis no. DV64 1595
1933 Stutz DV-32 Sedan
Registration no. not UK registered
Chassis no. DV64 1595
Registration no. not UK registered
Chassis no. DV64 1595
*Premiere American luxury make
*One of only 150 produced
*An older restoration
*Purchased for the Key Museum in 2011
*One of only 150 produced
*An older restoration
*Purchased for the Key Museum in 2011
Footnotes
Built in just five weeks, Harry Clayton Stutz's first car did sufficiently well at the 1911 Indianapolis 500, finishing 11th despite numerous stops for fresh tyres, to prompt its creator to set up the Ideal Motor Car Company to manufacture the 'Car That Made Good In A Day'. Introduced in 1912, Stutz's most famous product - the Bearcat speedster - was one of the first true sports cars, being stripped of all but the bare essentials and offering little in the way of weather protection or comfort. In 1912 Stutz won 25 out of 30 competitions entered thanks to the Bearcat. The Bearcat remained a fixture of the range until the end of the 1924 season when the installation of Frederick E Moskovics as company president marked a change of emphasis: from now on Stutz cars would be aimed at the luxury market.
Sutz's new era was marked by the introduction for 1926 of its first eight-cylinder chassis - the Vertical Eight – which featured under-slung worm final drive, an arrangement that enabled coachbuilders to create elegant low-slung bodies. In 1927, a sedan set a new world speed record, averaging 68.44mph for 24 hours at Indianapolis, while the following year one entered and owned by wealthy French pilot and inventor Charles Weymann, and driven by Bloch/Brisson, finished 2nd at Le Mans behind the Rubin/Barnato Bentley despite losing top gear 90 minutes from the finish.
Like all producers of luxury cars, Stutz was hit badly by the post-Wall Street Crash Depression. Lacking the resources to develop multi-cylinder engines - by this time rivals Cadillac were offering 12- and 16-cylinder models - Stutz revamped the Vertical Eight as the DV-32, grafting on a new double-overhead-camshaft 32-valve cylinder head. Introduced for 1932, the result was a state-of-the-art power unit producing a mighty 156bhp, and in Bearcat speedster form the DV-32 was guaranteed to exceed 100mph. In spite of slashing prices, Stutz production declined steeply during the early 1930s. In 1934 only six cars left the factory, and in 1937 this once great auto-maker was declared insolvent. The DV-32's late introduction makes it scarce today, with only 150 produced.
The DV-32 offered here has handsome five-passenger sedan coachwork mounted on the longest available (145") chassis, which was reserved for many of Stutz's custom bodies. For many years the car was owned by a noted Stutz expert and has toured extensively throughout Europe. Fully restored a number of years ago, it was purchased for the Key Collection at Bonhams' Quail Lodge sale in August 2011 (Lot 408).
Should the vehicle remain in the UK, local import taxes of 5% will be added to the hammer price.
Saleroom notices
Please note, this lot is withdrawn.
Additional information
Specialist section
Motor Cars (UK)
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Auction Viewings
- 6 April 2019, 09:00 - 17:30 BST
- 7 April 2019, 09:00 - 13:00 BST
Lot symbols
| * | Import low rate |
| VAT on imported items at a preferential rate of 5% on Hammer Price and the prevailing rate on Buyer's Premium. |
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