1929 Stutz Blackhawk Coupe (RHD)

Description

The fabled machines built by Harry C Stutz's eponymous company in Indiana between 1911 and 1935 are some of the finest American classics ever made, promoted by the slogan ?The car that made good in a day? - a reference to the successful debut of the first Stutz at the Indianapolis 500-Miles in May 1911. Stutz is perhaps best remembered for the legendary Bearcat which, along with the Mercer Raceabout, represented the pinnacle of American motoring in the Brass Era. Stutz was also one of the few American manufacturers to become well known in Europe, largely through the efforts of Charles Weymann, who fielded teams at Le Mans in 1928 and 1929. In January 1929 a new, cheaper model line was developed using the name Blackhawk, evoking the legendary Black Hawk Speedsters of the 1920s, and these were produced as a separate marque. Offered in either 85 hp six-cylinder or 90 hp eight-cylinder configurations on a 127.5-inch wheelbase, the Blackhawk could be had in a variety of factory body styles including Speedster, Coupe, Cabriolet Coupe or Sedan. Unlike its rivals, the Blackhawk was not built down to a price, rather it was simply a downsized version of the high quality Stutz. The overhead-camshaft six was essentially the same as Stutz's straight eight less two cylinders, with twin plug ignition, silent chain valve drive and a four-speed manual gearbox (one of the first used in an American car), while the chassis was a sophisticated design with a Timken worm-drive back axle. Braking was via Lockheed hydraulic drums, with the option of a vacuum booster. With less weight and a shorter, more rigid chassis the six-cylinder Blackhawk won praise for its handling and driving characteristics. Sadly the Blackhawk only survived for two seasons thanks to the intervention of the Great Depression, with 1310 made in 1929 plus a further 280 in 1930, and survivors are few and far between, with only a handful known to be in Australia.