1921 Stutz Series K

Stutz and Bearcat are two renowned names in the automotive arena, with reputations bolstered by enviable racing accomplishments and engineering prowess. From day one, Harry C. Stutz's untested prototype Bearcat racer earned the slogan, 'The Car That Made Good in a Day,' by competing in the 1911 inaugural Indianapolis 500 race and beating many established brands with a respectable 11th place finish with an average speed of 68 mph. At the 1913 Indy 500, the Stutz placed 3rd, and the company's 'White Squadron' of racing cars won at Elgin, Point Loma, and Sheepshead Bay in 1915 and placed 3rd, 4th, and 7th at that year's Indianapolis 500. When customers sought the ultimate in American sporting cars, they turned to Stutz.

A road-worthy version of the Bearcat was first offered to the public in 1912, and like the Stutz racing cars, it was constructed around a low-slung chassis, ensuring a lower center of gravity and good handling characteristics. Its lightweight design had two bucket seats and was without a windshield or convertible top. Power was initially sourced from a Wisconsin T-head engine, eventually replaced by a Stutz-built, sixteen-valve, four-cylinder unit that drew heavily on Stutz's racing experience.

As engine performance increased over the years, so did the need for a heavier and more rigid chassis. Continuing to reside on a short and lightweight 120-inch wheelbase, the new model had a lower center of gravity, a result of having its tank placed down low in the rear, and a pair of raked spare tires housed in the rear deck in racing fashion.

Beginning in 1915, the Indianapolis-based manufacturer began building a four-passenger version of its infamous racing-derived Bearcat. Dubbed the Bulldog, it used a 10-inch longer wheelbase chassis and was powered by the same T-head four-cylinder well into the 1920s. The coachwork was narrow, close-coupled, and lightweight.

The 1921 Stutz Series K
The 1921 Stutz Serise K used a 120-inch wheelbase platform for the two-passenger Bearcat and a larger 130-inch wheelbase platform for the roadster, coupe, and four- and six-passenger Tourer. Prices began at $3,900 for the Bearcat and Runabout and rose to $4,000 for the Tourers. The closed coupe was priced in excess of $5,000.

Power was courtesy of a 361 cubic-inch T-head inline four-cylinder engine breathing through a single Stromberg carburetor and delivering 80 horsepower at 2,400 RPM. It was paired with a three-speed manual gearbox, and two-wheel mechanical drum brakes provided the stopping power. The chassis was suspended by semi-elliptical leaf springs and solid axles.

Production of the Bearcat lasted through 1925, and then after several years of laying dormant, it was revived in 1931 as a coupe body style on the DV-32. The name continued for two years, ending in 1933, its final farewell being the 'Super Bearcat.' Production of Stutz automobiles ended in 1935 after approximately 35,000 automobiles had been manufactured.

by Daniel Vaughan | May 2023