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| The '''Stutz Motor Company''', later reborn as '''Stutz Motor Car of America''', was a producer of [[luxury car]]s. Production began in [[1911]] and continued through [[1935]]. The [[marque]] reappeared in [[1968]] and lasted through the [[1980s]]. Throughout its history, Stutz was known as a producer of exclusive cars for the rich and famous.
| | #REDIRECT [[Stutz Motor Company]] |
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| ==Stutz Motor Company==
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| [[Image:1915 Stutz White Squadron.jpg|right|thumb|250px|1915 Stutz White Squadron racer in the [[Petersen Automotive Museum]]]]
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| [[Image:1912_Stutz_racer_057898.jpg|right|thumb|250px|1912 Stutz racer]]
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| The company was founded as the Ideal Motor Car Company in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]] in [[1911]]. Ideal entered a car in the [[Indianapolis 500]] that year and placed 11th, earning it the slogan, "the car that made good in a day". The next year, the founder, [[Harry Stutz|Harry C. Stutz]], renamed the company Stutz Motor Company and began selling high-performance roadsters like the famous [[Stutz Bearcat]].
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| Stutz was forced to raise money to fund his automobile production, eventually selling the company in [[1919]] after a falling out with the companies major stockholder Allen Ryan, who then went bankrupt. In [[1922]], three Stutz investors, one of whom was [[Charles M. Schwab]], gained control of the company. The new owners brought in [[Frederick Ewan Moskowics]], formerly of [[Daimler Benz]], [[Marmon]], and [[Franklin (automobile)|Franklin]], in [[1923]]. Moskowics quickly refocused the company as a developer of [[safety car]]s, a recurring theme in the auto industry. In the case of Stutz, the car featured safety glass, a low [[center of gravity]] for better [[car handling|handling]], and a hill-holding transmission called "Noback". One notable advance was the [[1931]] [[DOHC]] 32-valve V8, one of the earliest [[multi-valve]] engines.
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| In [[1927]], a Stutz set a world record for speed, averaging 68 mph (109.5 km/h) for 24 hours. The following year, a Stutz finished second at the [[24 Hours of Le Mans]], the best result for an American car until [[1966]]. Stutz set another speed record at [[Daytona]], reaching 106.53 mph (171.3 km/h), and the company placed fifth at Le Mans in [[1929]].
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| Production ended in [[1935]] after 35,000 Stutz cars had been manufactured. The former Indianapolis factory is today known as the Stutz Business Center and is home to more than eighty artists, sculptors, photographers, designers, architects, and craftsmen.
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| ==Stutz Motor Car of America==
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| [[Virgil Exner]] had more luck with the Stutz name. In August, [[1968]], New York banker [[James O'Donnell]] raised funds and incorporated '''Stutz Motor Car of America'''. A prototype of Exner's [[Stutz Blackhawk]] was produced by Ghia, and the car debuted in [[1970]].
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| This incarnation of Stutz had some success, selling Blackhawks and derived models for more than a decade. Production of most models ended in [[1987]], though there was still some activity through [[1995]].
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| ==Trivia==
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| * The movie ''[[Never Die Alone]]'' prominently features a Stutz Blackhawk, driven by Earl "DMX" Simmons and David Arquette.
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| ==Stutz Models==
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| * Stutz Motor Company
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| ** 1911-1925 [[Stutz Bearcat|Bearcat]]
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| ** 1926-1935 [[Stutz 8-Cylinder|8-Cylinder]]
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| * Stutz Motor Car of America
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| ** 1970-1987 [[Stutz Blackhawk|Blackhawk]] ([[coupe]])
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| *** 1970-1979 - based on the [[Pontiac Grand Prix]]
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| *** 1980-1987 - based on the [[Pontiac Bonneville]]
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| ** 1979-1992 [[Stutz Bearcat|Bearcat]] ([[convertible]])
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| *** 1977 - a converted Blackhawk
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| *** 1979 - based on the [[Pontiac Grand Prix]]
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| *** 1980-1986 - based on the [[Pontiac Bonneville]] or [[Oldsmobile 88|Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale]]
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| *** 1987-1992 - based on the [[Pontiac Firebird]]
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| ** 1970-1980 [[Stutz IV-Porte|Duplex/IV-Porte/Victoria]] ([[sedan]])
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| *** 197? Duplex
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| *** 1977-1980 IV-Porte - based on the [[Pontiac Bonneville]] or [[Oldsmobile 88|Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale]]
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| *** 1981- Victoria
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| ** [[Stutz Diplomatica|Diplomatica/Royale]] ([[limousine]])
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| *** Diplomatica - based on the [[Cadillac DeVille]]
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| *** Royale - super-long limo
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| ** 1984- [[Stutz Defender|Defender/Gazelle/Bear]] - [[Chevrolet Suburban]]-based armored [[SUV]]
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| *** Gazelle - military SUV with mounted [[machine gun]]
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| *** Bear - four-door [[convertible]]
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| ==References==
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| {{commonscat|Stutz vehicles}}
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| * {{cite web | title=The Stutz Club Online | work=Stutzclub.org | url=http://www.stutzclub.org | accessdate=March 1 | accessyear=2005}}
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| * {{cite web | title=The Internet Guide to Stutz cars history and models | work=Madle.org | url=http://www.madle.org/estutz.htm | accessdate=March 1 | accessyear=2005}}
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| [[Category:Car manufacturers]]
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| [[Category:Defunct motor vehicle manufacturers of the United States]]
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| [[Category:Luxury motor vehicle manufacturers]]
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