[harit]

Originally Posted by wasif

Whats up with the find of the year.

Any updates / pics ???

Well here is an update, but not the kind expected.
While I was away, a friend forwarded to me a scanned copy of an article published in a newspaper in south India. It is attached for reference, I hope that it can be enlarged and read. If not, then here are selected excerpts for your enjoyment. This is what they said about the Stutz:

1) " Vintage car collector Diljeet Titus purchsed the race car of 1929 make......"

2) " The four-passenger speedster, a Senior Stutz belonging to the M Series is essentially a racecar prototype adapted for daily use."

3) "......it was one of the early automobiles characterised by advanced engineering, low center of weight and an Excelsior racing engine, similar to that used by Duesenberg car, another racing automobile. The 115 hp Stutz can rev upto 145 km per hour."

4) ".........the first car that the company built in 1911 as a pilot model was placed 11th in the 500-mile Indianapolis car race. Since then, the car came to be known as a racing car."

For fear of being called arrogant, I refrain comments. But the noble Indian Stutz car is being linked to racing and Duesenberg. Ingenious indeed!

Cheers harit

[wasif]

Hilarious. They also mentioned that the car is right hand drive when in the picture it is clear for anyone to see the steering is on the left.

Also "cigarette yellow" never saw a yellow cigarette in my life now brown yes black yes offwhite yes but yellow ciggies to tell more on these.

Who was the collector refered to who's family is said to have sold it on to the present owner.

Regarding the Duesenberg connection well Fred D did design the DV 32 for Stutz and both companies had a very similar types of plaques "Stutz 8" and "Duesenberg 8 "

[travancore]

Originally Posted by wasif

Hilarious. They also mentioned that the car is right hand drive when in the picture it is clear for anyone to see the steering is on the left.

Also "cigarette yellow" never saw a yellow cigarette in my life now brown yes black yes offwhite yes but yellow ciggies to tell more on these.

Who was the collector refered to who's family is said to have sold it on to the present owner.

Regarding the Duesenberg connection well Fred D did design the DV 32 for Stutz and both companies had a very similar types of plaques "Stutz 8" and "Duesenberg 8 "

I believe the newspaper got the picture reversed. The pictures posted by S.B.Jatti (Post # 9 in this thread) do show the car is RHD.

[karlosdeville]

Agreed, there might be some glaring errors, but I must say I very glad to see an article of this sort appearing in the papers. We enthusiasts crave for such stories, especially when it is for such a rare car.

[harit]

Originally Posted by karlosdeville

Agreed, there might be some glaring errors, but I must say I very glad to see an article of this sort appearing in the papers. We enthusiasts crave for such stories, especially when it is for such a rare car.

I dare say that the choice of words is slightly inappropriate. Just check the words above in bold. Glaring errors can be corrected, stories-tales will remain tales. So perhaps you did like the story about the exotic car in the jungle recovered by elephants?
But true stories, that is another matter.

Cheers harit

[TractionAvant]

Originally Posted by harit

Well here is an update, but not the kind expected.
While I was away, a friend forwarded to me a scanned copy of an article published in a newspaper in south India. Cheers harit

I wonder what the motivation is behind such articles. If the owner is seeking publicity, I think I can safely say he is knowledgable enough to supply correct details.

Perhaps this can be put down to shoddy research & and no knowledge about the subject.

Aditya

[wumpletoad]

In an earlier post, someone mentioned the prospect of this car being at Pebble Beach. I have been to Pebble Beach on more than one occasion and feel compelled to respectfully suggest that this is quite THE LAST destination for this vehicle. The combination of a paucity of understanding and an excess of money has lead to the most ghastly and wholly inappropriate over-restorations often to be seen there.

The forward windscreen on this Stutz appears incorrect and, if so, should be dealt with. In other respects the vehicle appears in remarkably sound and original condition. Clean it up and leave it that way. To perform one of the vaunted "ground up" restorations would be be to reduce it to a replica and profoundly compromise its intrinsic value.

I hope its owners will appreciate the car for what it is and not be tempted to turn it into something that never was. Pebble Beach already has plenty of those.

Wumpletoad.

[TractionAvant]

Originally Posted by wumpletoad

I hope its owners will appreciate the car for what it is and not be tempted to turn it into something that never was. Pebble Beach already has plenty of those.

Wumpletoad.

I agree, I wish there is minimum intervention in this case. Preservation & not restoration is what comes to mind.

Originally Posted by wumpletoad

The forward windscreen on this Stutz appears incorrect and, if so, should be dealt with.
Wumpletoad.

It does look a little out of place but when you compare it with pictures of other similar cars in posts no.6 & 15 the overall shape appears correct.

Aditya

[wasif]

Originally Posted by wumpletoad

Clean it up and leave it that way. To perform one of the vaunted "ground up" restorations would be be to reduce it to a replica and profoundly compromise its intrinsic value.

Wumpletoad.

Hello Wumps.

My thoughts exactly as mentioned by me in one of the posts in this thread. Unfortunately I was one of the minority who advocated this approach and scoffed at.

The patina on this car is something no amount of money will ever be able to buy.

Also like you mentioned the front screen is not original and would do with a proper replacment. Apart from this the dash and the instruments are not correct. It has been changed at some point with the addition of the present gauges in place of the beautiifull originals, wonder what caused this change.

Then we would need to get the missing parts for the rear windscreen / cowl and then as they say in your nick of the woods "Bob's your uncle " we are done.

Wasif

[wumpletoad]

Originally Posted by wasif

Hello Wumps.

Also like you mentioned the front screen is not original and would do with a proper replacment. Apart from this the dash and the instruments are not correct. It has been changed at some point with the addition of the present gauges in place of the beautiifull originals, wonder what caused this change.

Then we would need to get the missing parts for the rear windscreen / cowl and then as they say in your nick of the woods "Bob's your uncle " we are done.

Wasif

Hi, Wasif,

I hadn't noticed the instrumentation - obviously quite wrong and very much out of character. I should pay more attention!

I think I might give some attention to the brakes as well. Early hydraulics can be a can of worms.

And Le Baron was a respected coachbuilder on most of the expensive American chassis during the 'twenties. The Depression didn't help them (nor Stutz!) and they were acquired in the 'thirties by Chrysler in much the same way as Hooper and Barker were acquired by Daimler (BSA) and Rolls Royce swallowed up Park Ward and Freestone and Webb.

Le Baron became responsible for the "Imperial" limousines but after the War and the introduction of unitary construction, there was not a lot for them to do and the name (together with the reputation of the marque itself), degenerated into a marketing device. As far as I recall, it was last applied to a very mediocre convertible which, at the time (1990's), was the cheapest model in the Chrysler range! Thus do all things pass.

To complete the Bob's your uncle maxim; ". . . . and Fanny's your aunt". I could tell you about a funny experience had in America with this strange expression but I might get into trouble, being a Newbie. However, I'm amused that it should still be known in India. We Brits have a lot to answer for!

Wumps.

[wasif]

Originally Posted by S.B.Jatti

The latest aquisition of Mr.Diljeet Titus a 1929 - Stutz Lebaron -Speedster, dual cowl, dual windshield, with a vertical 8 engine, probably will find its way in the most desirable cars. Understand only 92 cars are surviving world over. I shall try and post some photographs shortly.

It appears this car may not be a 1929 but a 1930 Stutz Model M LeBaron 4-Passenger Tonneau Cowl Speedster

This is the correct name for this style of body.

This info has been provided by members of the AACA forum.

[S.B.Jatti]

The information on the AACA forum is incorrect.

The correct information as confirmed by research from documents from The Stutz Club Inc. is as follows:

“Stutz, Series M-26, 4 Passenger Speedster with tonneau cowl and windshield”. This is the exact description used by the Stutz Motor Co. Of course the car is a 1930. This has been confirmed by the Engine Serial Number being amongst the last of the Series M produced by Stutz before this series was discontinued in mid 1930.

As you will note, the correct description uses “Series” instead of “Model” and the name of the coachbuilder Lebaron is nowhere used in the description of the car by Stutz Motor Co.

Kindly correct the post on the AACA forum!

Originally Posted by wasif

It appears this car may not be a 1929 but a 1930 Stutz Model M LeBaron 4-Passenger Tonneau Cowl Speedster

This is the correct name for this style of body.

This info has been provided by members of the AACA forum.

[IndrojitSircar]

Originally Posted by wasif

It appears this car may not be a 1929 but a 1930 Stutz Model M LeBaron 4-Passenger Tonneau Cowl Speedster

This is the correct name for this style of body.

This info has been provided by members of the AACA forum.

Please post the link of the particular thread so that we can also see it.Thankx





Whats The status on the restoration?Any pictures?

[wasif]

Originally Posted by S.B.Jatti

The information on the AACA forum is incorrect.

The correct information as confirmed by research from documents from The Stutz Club Inc. is as follows:

“Stutz, Series M-26, 4 Passenger Speedster with tonneau cowl and windshield”. This is the exact description used by the Stutz Motor Co. Of course the car is a 1930. This has been confirmed by the Engine Serial Number being amongst the last of the Series M produced by Stutz before this series was discontinued in mid 1930.

As you will note, the correct description uses “Series” instead of “Model” and the name of the coachbuilder Lebaron is nowhere used in the description of the car by Stutz Motor Co.

Kindly correct the post on the AACA forum!

Jatti Sir.

Could you please post soem coroboration on this info you say is correct.

I can't correct anything on the AACA forum without any coroboration.

Where did you get to see documents from the Stutz Club / Motor Company.

[S.B.Jatti]

Originally Posted by wasif

Jatti Sir.

Could you please post soem coroboration on this info you say is correct.

I can't correct anything on the AACA forum without any coroboration.

Where did you get to see documents from the Stutz Club / Motor Company.

Here is some of the research to be found in "The Splendid Stutz" a Stutz Club Publication. I have seen the original Sales Brochures on the Series M with the same information.

I am uploading a page from the "Information Book" on the Stutz.