1971 Stutz Blackhawk (Series I - Split Windshield) Supercharged, 2 Seater

You are bidding on a beautiful and extremely rare 1971 Stutz Blackhawk.   A brief history on the Stutz Blackhawk from 1968 forward - The Stutz Motor Company was revived in 1968 by investment banker James O'Donnell. He saw a need for a very exclusive and hand built car for the very wealthy.   He joined forces with retired Chrysler stylist Virgil Exner. Exner had several automobile designs that he had published a few years earlier in Esquire magazine which depicted a series of “revival cars” which were in essence great automobiles from the thirties. Exner designed and drew his interpretations of what the cars might look like if they were still being produced at the time which was the mid sixties. These designs were also produced as model toys by the Renwal Company. One of the designs was the Stutz Blackhawk. O'Donnell and Exner chose this design for their new revived Stutz Automobile.   All of the prominent design features of the Stutz Blackhawk were meant to emulate the cars of the thirties. The freestanding headlights. the exposed side exhaust. the rear exposed spare tire. the two piece split windshield and of course the general lines of the car. 1971 was the first year of Blackhawk production.   Please do not get the 1971 Blackhawks confused with the 1972 and later Blackhawks. The ‘71's were an entirely different car altogether with many unique features that had to be later changed due to government safety regulations to get the 1972 and later Blackhawks imported in from Italy. The 1971 Blackhawks were all 2 seaters. with only a small flip up jump seat in the back. When folded down. it offered two small areas for fitted luggage. The 1971 Blackhawks also had the 2-piece split windshield which was able to be imported in originally but later had to be changed to a standard windshield due to safety regulations. The ‘71's also had no full width rear bumper across the back of the car. A regular bumper had to be added on 1972's and later again due to government safety and crash regulations. The 1971 Blackhawks were also hand built and assembled at Carrozzeria Padane in Modena Italy. All of the bodies (like all Stutzs') were handmade and formed from heavy gauge steel from very skilled craftsman. The ‘71's were assembled alongside Maserati's at the same factory and there are several small trim items that are shared with the Maserati  Indy such as interior and exterior door handles. door lights and instrumentation which is all Veglia with Italian script. All Stutzs' had complete leather interior. real wood trim and depending on your choice. mink or chinchilla carpeting. even in the trunk compartment. (Definitely not politically correct by today's standards). All of the significant bright work on the car was made of brass and then chrome plated to avoid pitting.  Another extremely rare and interesting feature on the 1971 Blackhawks is that they all originally came with the 17” Firestone LXX wheel and tire combination. These were meant to be one of the first run flat tires and were put on the Stutz exclusively. The tires didn't perform as expected and were discontinued on later Blackhawks. If you can find a set of these wheels and tires. they are more rare than the cars. The Stutz you are bidding on still wears its original set and they are in excellent condition. According to sources. there were approximately 25 or 26 Blackhawks built in 1971 and according to the Stutz registry there are about 14 that are known to still exist. So this Stutz is one of only 14 1971 Stutz Blackhawks left in the world. This is the only burgundy one produced and the only one that  I know of that is supercharged. so this Stutz is actually one of one. Needless to say it is extremely rare and irreplaceable.   I've been going back and forth on whether or not I want to sell it as I know I will never be able to replace it.

This particular 1971 Stutz Blackhawk is in absolutely excellent condition with only 5. 00 original miles from new. It has a full known and very interesting history. It was originally owned by George Norman Jr. who owned three other Stutz cars including the only 1971 four door which is now in a museum in Sarasota. Fl. The car was at his residence in Salt Lake City. Utah. The car was then seized by the government including all of his other assets and then went into storage for several years. Mr. Norman then went into hiding and was a fugitive from the government for many years (Very interesting story – I have documents which will be provided to the new owner). The car was then purchased. along with another '71 Stutz by a Mr. Howa of Howa Construction. Also in Salt Lake City. Utah. The car remained in his private collection until I purchased it. I am the third owner and have owned it for approximately six years. Even though the car had always been properly stored and serviced. when I first got it. I went through the car completely and had all fluids changed. cooling system flushed etc. I have all receipts from everything I've had done to the car since I've owned it. The car runs and drives perfect. It does still sit on its original Firestone LXX wheels and tires so even though it is drivable. (I drive it around the neighborhood just to keep everything up and functioning). it would need a different set of wheels and tires to drive it on a regular basis at higher speeds. Although this car is more of a collection/museum piece than a regular driver. It is just too rare to risk getting in an accident.

The engine is a 455 cu in V8 with a Paxton supercharger. Not completely sure if the Supercharger was installed at the factory or not. There is a story that the original owner. Mr. Norman. collaborated with Andy Granatelli of Indy car fame and had the entire engine gone through when the car was new and had it balanced and blueprinted and the supercharger installed. There is mention of this in an article about the Stutz and its original owner Mr. Norman in a 1972 issue of GQ magazine. The article mentions this exact burgundy Stutz and also a custom built $12. 00. 00 engine (equal to over $50. 00 by today's value) that Mr. Norman had in the car. (I have a copy of the article that will be provided)  In any event. the engine runs perfect and as smooth as glass and has an enormous amount of power.   All of the belts and hoses have been replaced and there are no drips or leaks of any kind. I retained the previous belts and hoses should the new owner want them.   The automatic transmission shifts perfectly and smoothly as you would expect from a car with only 5. 00 original miles. All brakes on the car are in excellent condition and required no servicing at all when I purchased the car. I did have the system flushed and the fluid changed.

The body of the car is again in excellent condition. There is no rust on the vehicle and it has obviously never been in any kind of accident. I would say that the paintwork on the car is probably 85% - 90% original.  There is some very minor indications of some touch up work that was probably done years ago most likely due to the slight cracking / checking of the original lacquer. There are some extremely minor blemishes here and there but nothing that stands out. The paint I would say is a strong 8 or 8. 5 out of 10 and I am very picky. The paint shows extremely well especially for a 42 yr old vehicle. All of the chrome and brightwork on the car is in excellent condition with no dings. no rust and no signs of pitting. Very consistent with a car that has always been stored indoors.  All of the original glass. windshield. windows. etc.   is in perfect condition.

The undercarriage of the car is completely straight. rust free and extremely clean. I seriously doubt that the car has ever even been driven in the rain. I know that it hasn't been since I've owned it. nor was it while it was part of Mr. Howa's collection. As previously mentioned. the Stutz still sits on its original Firestone LXX wheels and tires. including the spare.  All of them are surprisingly in excellent condition with no major issues or cracking of the rubber. They hold air perfectly. The car is completely drivable on these tires. I usually just keep the speed to a minimum 40 or 50 mph and not for an extended period just to be safe.   The car would need new wheels and tires to drive safely at higher speeds.

The interior of the car is also in excellent condition and again consistent with that of a 5. 00 mile car. All of the leather is in excellent condition with some slight normal wear and age cracking. or patina as it's called these days. on the seats.  All of the other leather areas. door panels. dash. console. entire rear seating/luggage etc. are in excellent condition. No cracking. no fading. no wear whatsoever. The original black ranch mink carpeting is in excellent condition with no wear showing. This Stutz even still has its original black mink floor mats that came with the car when new. Never seen these before.   All interior wood trim is in excellent condition with no cracking. The car also still retains its original Lear jet 8-track stereo that works as it should. All original and rare emblems are still present inside the car including the Stutz emblem on top of the shifter knob and the tiny Stutz emblem on the stereo.  The only issue with the interior is that the original felt type material headliner is beginning to sag and come unglued. I was unsure on whether or not I was going to keep the original material or have it redone in leather. I will let the new owner decide. The trunk compartment is in perfect condition. It is covered in a black diamond patterned vinyl identical to Maserati's and Ferrari's and the trunk floor is again covered in mink.

Everything on the car works and functions properly as it should. Lights. wipers. gauges. etc. The air conditioning compressor and blower all function. however. it will most likely need to be serviced to perform correctly and blow cold air. I have never used it as I rarely drive the car and then only a few miles around the neighborhood. so I have never really had any reason to have the system looked at. It should only need a good servicing and recharge to perform as new.

The Stutz comes with its original brass owner's plaque which displays George Norman Jr. as the original owner and Jules Meyers as the dealer/distributor.   I also have tons of original Stutz literature including advertisements. early photos and the black folder. again containing articles. photos and specifications etc.  I also have articles and copies of court documents pertaining to the original owner. Mr. Norman. and the seizure of his property including this particular Stutz.   On an interesting side note – the only 4 door 1971 Stutz that was ever produced was also owned by very rich Mr. Norman. Keep in mind that these Stutz automobiles were $25 - $30. 00. 00 in 1971. That was more than twice the price of an average home at the time and equivalent to over $150. 00 in today's money. Mr.  Norman owned four of them.  That 4 door Stutz is now at a museum in Sarasota. Fl and has been repainted white.  I tracked down and spoke to Mr. Norman's son who informed me that the 4 door was originally burgundy and that his father specially ordered this one in the same color so that he would have a matching pair. Just thought it was an interesting story pertaining to the history of this particular car.

I have tried to describe the Stutz as accurately as possible. If you are seriously interested. you will not be disappointed. This is one of the best. lowest mileage. most original and rarest in existence with full known and documented history from new. If you have any questions or would like additional photos of anything in particular. please do not hesitate to contact me by email or cell # 321-794-7196. Serious bidders are more than welcome to come and take a look at the car and drive it. Just contact me ahead of time to set up an appointment. Buyer is responsible for all transport and shipping cost and all funds must clear my bank and be verified before the car will be released. Thanks.

Also published at eBay.com

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