When it came time for the wealthy automobilist to purchase a new automobile for his growing family in the early 20th century, he often did not wish to give up the fun and passion he had enjoyed behind the wheel of a two-passenger sporting car. In the case of the lucky Stutz owner, he did not have to. Beginning in 1915, that famed Indianapolis manufacturer began building a four-passenger version of its infamous racing-derived Bearcat.

This four-passenger model, dubbed the Bulldog, was built on a slightly extended wheelbase chassis, but it used lightweight bodywork, so it had only a slight weight increase over the Bearcat. It was powered by the same durable and powerful T-head four-cylinder engine, which had proven to be a powerhouse of a design, with Stutz holding onto it until well into the 1920s.

The Bulldog offered here is one of very few authentic surviving examples, and it benefits from decades of known history by true enthusiasts, with the majority of the car’s life being spent in the care of one passionate man, the late Don Short. Mr. Short, a famed enthusiast and capable mechanic of all things Stutz, purchased this Bulldog in the 1940s, and it remained in his ownership for over 60 years, finally being sold following his passing in the early 21st century.

The car wears a more recent cosmetic and mechanical freshening, including an updated paint scheme in black and ochre, an interior that was accurately trimmed where necessary (preserving what good original leather was left), and a correctly fitted new top. It features both a correct rear-mounted trunk and dual rear-mounted spares, which preserve the flowing, close-coupled lines of the sporty bodywork.

This is an ideal Nickel Era tour car for the Glidden Tour and various VMCCA and AACA activities. It is simply a Splendid Stutz!