1930 Stutz SV-16 Monte CarloChassis no. M8-54-CD27SEngine no. 32515Body no. 54-315

1930 Stutz SV-16 Monte CarloCoachwork by WeymannChassis no. M8-54-CD27SEngine no. 32515Body no. 54-315
322ci SOHC Inline 8-Cylinder EngineSingle Updraft Carburetor113bhp at 3,300rpm4-Speed Manual TransmissionLeaf Spring Suspension4-Wheel Drum Brakes*Formerly of the A.K. Miller, Andy Simo, and Joseph Cassini Collections*Best in Class at Pebble Beach and Amelia Island; CCCA Warshawsky Award winner*Well-preserved concours restoration*One of only three survivors with this dramatic body*Among the most attractive sedans of the Classic EraTHE STUTZ MONTE CARLOStutz was one of the first American automakers to adopt the French "Weymann patent" bodywork, in which outer panels of padded synthetic leather were laid over a wooden frame insulated with fabric and cotton batting. The resulting design had a unique matte finish, and tended to not have the squeaks and rattles of a fully metal body. More importantly, it was lightweight, and ensured maximum performance from the chassis beneath – something always in mind at Stutz, a company whose reputation had been born on power.Stutz offered its customers a full Chateau Line of Weymann offerings, with exotic names such as Versailles and Monte Carlo. The Monte Carlo was the most attractive of the roster, a five-passenger club sedan with blind rear quarters, a low roofline, and a curving luggage compartment integrated into the lines of the body. It was slinky and sleek, as few Classics were, and on the peppy 113bhp SV-16 chassis was a fine high-speed road car for the period. Few American automobiles so neatly combined the U.S.'s brawny engineering and fine French style as the Stutz Monte Carlo, which would remain an offering virtually until the end of the marque's life – long after the rest of the Chateau Line had vanished from Stutz's catalogues.Today the Monte Carlo is widely held among the most beautiful sedans produced during the Classic Era.THE MOTORCAR OFFEREDOne of only three 1930 SV-16 chassis extant with the Monte Carlo bodywork, this example was formerly part of the famous Stutz hoard of the reclusive A.K. Miller, legendary for the automobiles that were secreted for decades within his Vermont barns. Miller was passionate about Stutzes and began gathering them in the factory era. Much of the automobile collection remained intact until his passing in 1993 and was sold at a landmark estate auction in 1996. Very few Stutzes were sold by Mr. Miller during his lifetime, but this was one of them, acquired in 1974 by Sherwood Kahlenberg.The Stutz was purchased in 2000 by the late, beloved Stutz enthusiast and Classic Car Club of America member, Andy Simo of Illinois, for whom it was meticulously and correctly restored to its original condition by RM Auto Restoration of Blenheim, Ontario. The painstaking work included fabric bodywork expertly paneled and an interior beautifully upholstered by the noted Ken Nemanic. Afterward the Stutz was shown and awarded Best in Class at the 2002 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the Warshawsky Award as the highest-point car at the 2003 Annual Meeting of the Classic Car Club of America, and Most Elegant Closed Car at Amelia Island in 2005. It was deservedly one of the best-known Stutzes on the American concours circuit.The car remained one of the centerpieces of Mr. Simo's collection until 2013, then joined the respected collection of Joseph and Margie Cassini, in whose ownership it was Best of Show at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Celebration of Automobiles that same year, followed by another Best in Class at Pebble Beach in 2015, thirteen years after restoration! The awards won by this Stutz are remarkable for a closed car, testament to the beauty of its design and the quality of the restoration. Yet with a comfortable interior and a roof over one's head, it is tempting to take this Stutz on the road; with its patented Weymann body fittings it would be a most distinctive and "squeakproof" selection for CCCA CARavans.Still well-preserved and worthy of show appearances, this superb automobile is in the first rank of Classic Stutzes – an iconic and beautiful design, exquisitely finished and beloved by collectors.