Stutz Blackhawk

Stutz Blackhawk
Stutz Blackhawk III Coupé
Overview
Manufacturer	Stutz Motor Company
Production	1971–1987
Body and chassis
Class	Personal luxury car
Powertrain
Engine	302 Windsor 307 Oldsmobile 5.0L V8 350 V8 351 Windsor T/A 6.6 6.6. Litre 425 V8 429 Cobra Jet 454 Super Sport 455 460 V8 472 V8 500 V8

The Stutz Blackhawk is an American luxury car manufactured from 1971 through 1987. Other than the name it bears no resemblance to the original Blackhawk (1929-1930). The Stutz Motor Company was revived in August 1968 by New York banker James O'Donnell. He joined forces with retired Chrysler stylist Virgil Exner who designed the new Blackhawk. Exner's design included a spare tire that protruded through the trunklid, a massive grille and freestanding headlamps. The new Blackhawk was prototyped by Ghia in Italy at a cost of over US$300,000. To offer exclusivity and still allow easy servicing in the US a custom built Italian body was added to a GM platform and engine. The Blackhawk debuted in January 1970 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Prices ranged from US$22,500 to US$75,000. All early Blackhawks were coupes, but rare sedans were produced later. Convertible versions were called D'Italia and Bearcat. Stutz Blackhawks became the car of choice among elite entertainers of the day. By 1976 Stutz had sold 205 Blackhawks and about six a month were handbuilt in Italy and shipped to the US. By April 1980 350 Blackhawks had been sold and by the time production ended in 1987 approximately 500 to 600 cars had been manufactured.

With an extra heavy gauge steel body handmade at Carrozzeria Padane in Modena, Italy, and from 1972 at Carrozzeria Saturn in Cavallermaggiore, near Torino, Italy, and greater than 19 feet long, the production Blackhawk uses Pontiac Grand Prix running gear, Pontiac's 7.5 L (455 in³) V8 engine, and a GM TH400 three-speed automatic transmission. With its engine tuned to produce 425 hp (317 kW) and 420 ft·lbf (570 N·m), the 5000 lb (2300 kg) Blackhawk can accelerate to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 8.4 seconds with a 130 mph (210 km/h) top speed, delivering eight miles per gallon (30 L/100 km). Later Blackhawks use Pontiac's 403 and 350. Also Ford, Chevrolet and Cadillac engines were used. The handbuilt Blackhawk has 18 to 22 handrubbed lacquer paint coats that took six weeks to apply. Total production time for each vehicle was over 1500 man-hours. In 1980, the Blackhawk was redesigned for the Pontiac Bonneville chassis and 1985, the Oldsmobile 88 Delta Royale/Buick LeSabre Chassis.