There are times when something might sound like a great car idea, say after a dozen drinks at the bar with a friend, but when you sober up, you realize that it was all wrong.
But what if you wake up and decide that it really was a great car idea, and why not double down on your idea by naming it after a historical brand from the past, such as the legendary Stutz? What could go wrong?
Since the idea is for an over-the-top luxury car and you are a banker with deep pockets, you get none other than legendary Chrysler stylist Virgil Exner to design it. Then to add to the allure of your new brainchild, why not have the body hand built in Italy? Can you dig it?
The Pick of the Day is that exact idea brought to life, a 1975 Stutz Blackhawk VI. Built on the chassis and drivetrain of the Pontiac Grand Prix, the Blackhawk was constructed in Italy by Carrozzeria Ghia of Torino.
If you take the Stutz in context with the era in which it was born, you might be able to see how this could make some kind of sense. It was the Disco Era, after all, the time of Studio 54, when over-the-top was just about right.
And just so your new car would shine above the more-pedestrian Excaliburs and such, you decide to gold plate everything in sight in the interior and offer real mink as a carpeting option. Other features of the Stutz Blackhawk were a spare tire that protruded through the trunk lid, freestanding headlamps and protruding grille, and purely decorative side “exhaust pipes.”
The interior featured either mink or wool carpeting, maple, walnut or redwood interior trim, Connolly leather seats and dash and a liquor cabinet in the back.
Oh, and the very first Stutz Blackhawk was sold in 1970 to none other than Elvis Presley. Dean Martin owned three of them, and Sammy Davis had two. Among the large roster of celebrity owners were Jerry Lewis, Willie Nelson, Muhammed Ali and his nemesis George Foreman, Elton John, Billy Joel, Wayne Newton and, of course, Liberace.
According to the St. Louis, Missouri, dealer advertising the Stutz on ClassicCars.com, this 1970s time capsule is finished in the stunning color combination of Wine Red Metallic over a Burgundy leather interior.
This is one of approximately 31 examples completed in 1975, and the ad describes it as being in spectacular condition with only 64,318 original miles. Stutz Blackhawks had a long shelf life for such an unusual creation, produced from 1971 through 1987, with several hundred built.
This Stutz comes equipped with nearly every available option, including factory air conditioning, power sunroof, power windows, power disc brakes, cruise control, and a tilt steering column featuring a gold plated Nardi wood-rimmed steering wheel. We are guessing it has many other options not listed, such as the extensive gold trim everywhere you look and the Lear Jet audio system.
So, get out those old ‘70s disco duds and your old Saturday Night Fever 8-Track and relive the 1970s in this time machine on wheels. The asking price of $59,900 seems like a cheap way to get back your youth. Just don’t throw out your back on the lighted dance floor while you get down to Boogie Fever.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
I bought one of these last year for a contact in Europe. LOTS of fake gold and velour everywhere! Hood was so heavy the hinges were bent. I was happy to see it go into the container and on the way!
I better not say what I am thinking.
I met ALI in 1978 when he was getting ready for his rematch with Leon Spinks. His license plate was ALI 1 from the state of IllInois .He was being driven in one of these He and the car were hard to miss. The meeting took place in Deer Lake Pa., his training camp.