Since I remembered this car while I was sitting at the computer I did some
searching and found that the Stutz people are active and loyal to their cars
much like we are to our Datsun roadsters.
I sent the webmaster of what appeared to be a very knowledgeable page the
information I had on this car. Most of what I told him was new to him.
Very little information is available anywhere. The one in the photograph
linked below is the car I looked at, and the only one built in this design.
It is technically called a Stutz D'Italia. I found a link to a news report
about the introduction indicating that the exact year was 1977.
According the reply I got back from the person I sent the information to the
car was eventually painted black and sold to Wayne Newton. Stutz cars of
this era are apparently highly modified Pontiacs. When the designers
removed the top they neglected to re-engineer the bottom side, which created
problems with body flex and doors closing improperly. Knowing that now I am
very happy my employer did not spend the hundred grand for this car.
Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: John Wightman [mailto:johnwightman@shaw.ca]
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 1:10 PM
To: 'Tom @ Datsun2000'; 'Paul'; datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: Roadster in the movies?!
You mean this one?
http://www.madle.org/italiapolodl.JPG
Very 70's funky...!
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net] On Behalf Of Tom @ Datsun2000
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2005 11:34 AM
To: Paul; datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: Roadster in the movies?!
In the mid 70's a car was introduced to the public at the Beverly Hilton.
The car was a Stutz Italia convertible. The only one if its kind. We
received notice of the gala event too late for me to attend the grand
unveiling, but a few days I was asked to go to Beverly Hills and look at the
car at the dealership. The car was not there when I arrived because Time
magazine was photographing it for a front cover. The next day I went back
and they had cleared the service floor with only this car sitting in the
middle of the service area and all doors closed. The car cost $100,000 at
that time.
The interior had gold plating wherever you think of chrome. The carpets,
interior door kick panels, and trunk liner were ALL mink. The body was hand
formed in Italy on a GM 454 chassis and finished with 20 coasts of hand
rubbed pearl lacquer. It took 6 weeks to paint. The car looks a lot like a
mid 70's Pontiac. The seats, steering column, and I suspect a lot more were
normal GM components.
My employer decided to purchase the car until he decided he could not have a
convertible with a boot rather than having the top retract under a metal
panel like the Mercedes 350SL this car would replace. I made sure he
understood he was getting rid of my dating car and I would use the Stutz as
a dating car. No problem. I did not own a car at that time. Just an older
Bellanca airplane.
While we had the car tied up waiting for the deal to finish I received a
call from the dealership. It seems they had a request to use this car in a
James Bond movie. I refused the request because if that paint were to be
scratched it would almost be impossible to repair and have look right.
After deciding not to purchase the car it was sold to Evil Knevel. The last
time I saw anything of it was on a Bionic Woman episode where Evil Knevel
was the guest star. As they were getting in the car at the end of the show
Jamie made a comment referring to the headlights being made of crystal. I
doubt many viewers understood that comment, but I did.
Tom
69 2000 - Mr. Hyde
Portland
http://www.datsun2000.com
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