1918 Stutz Bearcat Rumble-Seat Roadster

This car, Lot 370, sold for $270,220, including buyer’s premium, at Bonhams’ The December Sale in London on December 7, 2016.

“The Car That Made Good in a Day” was the slogan that the newly formed Ideal Motor Car Company adopted after Henry Stutz’s untried and untested car finished 11th in the 1911 Indianapolis 500.

Henry Stayton Stutz, at the age of 35, had an extensive background in the early automotive industry, having worked for U.S. Tire, the Wheeler-Schebler Carburetor Company, the American Motor Car Company and the Marion Motor Car Company. In the middle of all this, in 1910, he designed and patented a transaxle that he sold through the Stutz Auto Parts Company.

Stutz’s dream, however, was manufacturing his own automobile, and he had the insight to recognize a market niche for a quality sports car — similar to the Mercer — that would be priced at about $2,000.

To achieve this objective, Stutz had to get many of the car’s parts from other manufacturers, and this is where his prior background came into play.

In a shop in Indianapolis — with a small crew — he built his first car in just five weeks, and it was destined for the first Indianapolis 500-mile race, which was scheduled for Declaration Day — now known as Memorial Day — in 1911. Entered under the name of the Stutz Auto Parts Company, it remarkably finished the grueling race with nothing more than a few tire changes. It bested proven, more-powerful cars.

Not a win, but good enough to sell cars

The Ideal Motor Car Company began production soon after the Indianapolis 500 race, and the car, the Model A, used the same chassis and engine that ran in the race.

Stutz automobiles enjoyed sales success and continued to be impressive at the racetrack. The 2-passenger speedster was added to the Model A line in 1912 as the Bear Cat, later changed to one word.

The Series S was introduced in 1917, and it had Stutz’s own 16-valve, T-head 4-cylinder engine. The Bearcat was restyled with cut-down sides and a bench seat.

The gear shifter and hand brake were outside the body. The Series S was only offered for two years, as the Series G replaced it in 1919.

An unusual Bearcat

Our subject 1918 Bearcat is unusual in that it is fitted with a dickey, or rumble, seat. It is thought to have been first delivered to Charles Stutz, Henry Stutz’s first cousin. The car’s ownership history is completely known.

It wears an older restoration, as it was last refreshed in the late 1990s.

The Bonhams catalog listed the chassis number as S18333, but the Series S used a range from 1 to 2396, so the correct number is most likely S1833.

The 1918 Stutz Bearcat gained fame as it appeared in an early episode of “Jay Leno’s Garage.” Leno said he had owned it for 20 years, and he spoke glowingly of the car. Leno also said it took 10 years to get his Bearcat properly sorted out. It certainly performed properly on the show.

An approved Classic

The Classic Car Club of America recently expanded their list of Full Classics to include cars manufactured after 1915, which is the beginning of the Classic Era. All Stutz cars, except the HCS, are now accepted, which makes them eligible for CARavans and other activities. This enhances the value of the cars.

Early Stutz Bearcats have sold for well into seven figures, but the later ones don’t seem to have the magic. It has been a number of years since an authentic Series S Bearcat has been offered at public sale, so actual comparables are not readily available. However, Gooding & Company is offering a 1920 Stutz Series H Bearcat at Scottsdale with an estimate of $400k–$500k.

With this car, however, the new owner can proudly state that Jay Leno also has one, and that alone has to be worth the price paid. ♦

(Introductory description courtesy of Bonhams.)