A 1932 Stutz DV-32 Super Bearcat with coachwork by Weymann will be among the headline offerings at the Bonhams Amelia Island 2015 auction, to be held Thursday, March 12th at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club in Florida. The Stutz was formerly part of the Dr. Frederick A. Simeone collection.
Stutz was inspired by its racing success at 24 Hours of Le Mans to create the Super Bearcat as a way to promote its technologically sophisticated DOHC, 32-valve, 8-cylinder, “DV-32” engine.
With racing in mind, coachwork for this special model was commissioned by renowned French-American builder Charles Weymann who, with his extensive experience in aviation, invented the use of fabric bodies for automobiles as a way to reduce weight and increase speed.
Skinned with a Weymann fabric body and built upon a shortened wheelbase of 116” (a full 24” shorter than most), the Super Bearcat came to possess the most powerful, exotic Stutz engine in the shortest, lightest car. The resulting car – each of which was factory tested to over 100 mph before being shipped – was the most audacious American sports car of the 1930s.
With just around ten built, fewer than five are believed to exist today, making the Super Bearcat a rare car. Furthermore, this particular example is not only in excellent mechanical condition but it also retains its original fabric covering which is amazing considering its 82-year old age.
One of the most exclusive American collector cars, the Super Bearcat along with the Duesenberg SSJ are considered by many to be the only two “super sports” cars produced in the American Classic Era. There were other impressive “boulevard” sports cars to be sure, like the Auburn Speedster, but the Super Bearcat and SSJ were purpose-designed for ultimate performance.
The inaugural Bonhams Amelia Island 2015 auction is slated for Thursday, March 12th at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club and will coincide with the events surrounding the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance.
For further information, visit Bonhams Amelia Island.
[Source: Bonhams]
