Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 76 ¤
1928 Stutz BB Vertical Eight Touring Conversion Chassis no. BB-05-BB27A Engine no. 91476
Sold for US$42,560 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 76¤
From the Minden Automotive Museum
1928 Stutz BB Vertical Eight Touring Conversion
1928 Stutz BB Vertical Eight Touring Conversion
1928 Stutz BB Vertical Eight Touring Conversion
Chassis no. BB-05-BB27A
Engine no. 91476
Chassis no. BB-05-BB27A
Engine no. 91476
298.6ci Single Overhead Camshaft Inline Eight-Cylinder
Zenith Updraft Carburetor
110bhp at 3,600rpm
Three-Speed Manual Transmission
Live Axles with Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs
Four Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
* Fred Moskovics's brilliant Vertical Eight SOHC engine
* Low slung double drop frame and worm gear rear axle
* Successful model finishing second overall at Le Mans in 1928
* Rare right hand drive export model
* Preserved in the Minden Automobile Museum for forty years
THE STUTZ VERTICAL EIGHT
Perhaps no manufacturer put up a more gallant fight against the Great Depression than Stutz. Wounded by the departure of its founder in 1919 and the stock manipulations of Alan Ryan that followed, Fred Moskovics kept Stutz vital with the support of Bethlehem Steel magnate Charles Schwab. In 1926 Stutz introduced the Vertical Eight engine and the Safety Stutz chassis.
The engine had 287 cubic inches when introduced in 1926 and grew to 299 in '27 with a bore increase of 1/16 inches. It had an abundance of main bearings but more importantly its single overhead camshaft improved breathing and saw horsepower increase from 92hp at introduction to 110hp only two years later.
The Vertical Eight sat in a sophisticated double drop frame with a worm gear rear axle that lowered the chassis. It gave the bodywork designers an ideal basis for low, streamlined coachwork. They looked like sophisticated European coachwork and Stutz gave them fancy European-style names. The performance of the engine and chassis were supported by four wheel hydraulic drum brakes from Lockheed and no surprise that in 1928 a Stutz Black Hawk speedster finished second at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Stutz was, for a few sublime years, America's premier production performance car.
THE CAR OFFERED
This 1928 Stutz Vertical Eight Touring Car was sold to the Minden Automotive Museum in 1984 by Dennis Badagliacco from San Jose, California. It is titled by its engine number.
Finished in Turquoise Green with green fenders, the interior is upholstered in green leather under a brown leatherette top. Cream wire wheels carry 6.50-20 tires. There are Parabeam headlights, fender-mounted mirrors, dual sidemount spares, Mid-West Glass wind wings, Ra radiator cap ornament, a spotlight, dual horns, opening windshield with wiper and a luggage trunk.
The paint, upholstery and top are older but sound. The brightwork is dull and the chassis and engine compartment are aged and have some road grime. Its unusual history includes being righthand drive and residing in New Zealand for many years where it was owned by Bruce Catchpole. It was Catchpole, apparently, who converted it from its original 4-door sedan body to the present touring car style. The sedan proportions and bodywork details are still apparent although it is readily used as an open tourer.
Carefully preserved in the Minden Automotive Museum for over forty years this has the potential to be a delightful car for tours and hill climbs and every bit the hot road car that Fred Moskovics intended when he took over at Stutz.
Footnotes
Titled under its engine number.
Additional information
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