Stutz Bearcat Series H
The Stutz Bearcat is one of the most iconic American automobiles of the pre-war era. Created by Harry C. Stutz after his company's impressive 11th-place finish at the inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 1911 with a virtually stock car, the Bearcat was essentially a racing car for the road. In its original form, the Bearcat was starkly minimalist — a massive engine, a bucket seat, a steering wheel, and not much else. There was no windshield, no doors, and no top. A cylindrical 'monocle' bolted to the steering column served as the driver's only wind protection. The T-head four-cylinder engine displaced nearly 390 cubic inches and produced 60 horsepower, enough to propel the lightweight chassis to 80 mph — extraordinary speed in 1914. The Bearcat became the definitive American sports car of the teens, rivaled only by the Mercer Raceabout. The name 'Bearcat' became synonymous with speed and adventure in American popular culture, referenced in songs, stories, and the zeitgeist of the Roaring Twenties. Stutz later produced updated Bearcats through the 1930s with more sophisticated engineering, but the original stripped-down speedsters remain the most legendary.
Extremely rare — most survivors are in museums or major collections. Authentication is critical as reproductions exist. Check for correct T-head engine configuration. Brass fittings should show appropriate patina. Frame stampings and engine numbers must match documentation.
Production figures are not precisely documented. The Bearcat was produced alongside other Stutz models from the Indianapolis factory. The Series H designation covered the 1914-1917 period.