Stutz Blackhawk

Infobox Automobile
name=Stutz Blackhawk


manufacturer=Stutz Motor Company
production=1971–1987
engine=302 Windsor
350 V8
351 Windsor
T/A 6.6
6.6. Litre
425 V8
429 Cobra Jet
454 Super Sport
455 Rocket
460 Cleveland
472 V8
500 V8
class=Personal Luxury car
similar=Pontiac Grand Prix
Buick Riviera
Pontiac Bonneville
Lincoln Mark Series
Cadillac Eldorado
Cadillac Coupe DeVille
Ford LTDInfobox Automobile generation
name=First generation 1971


production=1971
body_style=2-door convertible
2-door coupe
engine=429 Cobra Jet
454 Super Sport
455 Rocket
460 Cleveland
472 V8
500 V8Infobox Automobile generation
name=Second Generation 1972


production=1972
body_style=2-door convertible
2-door coupe
engine=429 Cobra Jet
454 Super Sport
455 Rocket
460 Cleveland
472 V8
500 V8Infobox Automobile generation
name=Third Generation 1973


production=1973
body_style=2-door convertible
2-door coupe
engine=429 Cobra Jet
454 Super Sport
455 Rocket
460 Cleveland
472 V8
500 V8Infobox Automobile generation
name=Fourth Generation 1974-1976


production=1974–1976
body_style=2-door convertible
2-door coupe
engine=429 Cobra Jet
454 Super Sport
455 Rocket
460 Cleveland
472 V8
500 V8Infobox Automobile generation
name=Fifth Generation 1977-1979


production=1977–1979
body_style=2-door convertible
2-door coupe
engine=302 Windsor
350 V8
351 Windsor
T/A 6.6
6.6 Litre
425 V8
460 ClevelandInfobox Automobile generation
name=Sixth Generation 1980-1984


production=1980–1984
body_style= 2-door convertible
2-door coupe
engine=302 Windsor
350 V8
351 WindsorInfobox Automobile generation
name=Seventh Generation 1985-1987


production=1985–1987
body_style=2-door convertible
2-door coupe
engine=302 Windsor
350 V8
351 WindsorThe Stutz Blackhawk was an American luxury car produced from 1971 through 1987. The Stutz Motor Company had been revived by James O'Donnell and Virgil Exner-designed car was prototyped by Ghia. It debuted in January 1970 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The prototype cost more than US$300,000.

The production Blackhawk used Pontiac Grand Prix hardware and Pontiac's 7.5 L (455 in³) V8 engine. Output from the specially tuned engine was 425 hp (317 kW) and 420 ft·lbf (570 N·m). A GM "TH400" automatic transmission was used, allowing the 5000 lb (2300 kg) car to accelerate to convert|60|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on in 8.4 seconds with a convert|130|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on top speed. Fuel economy was just 8 miles per gallon (30 L/100 km). Later Blackhawks used Pontiac's "403" and "350".

Exner's design included a spare tire that protruded through the trunklid and separate headlights. The interior included gold plated trim and birdseye maple. All early Blackhawks were coupes, but rare sedans were produced later.

In 1980, the Blackhawk was redesigned for the Pontiac Bonneville chassis.

The first production car was purchased by Elvis Presley (who later bought four more), with other famous owners including Sammy Davis Jr., Evel Knievel, Robert Goulet, Larry Holmes, Willy Nelson, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Lucille Ball, Wilson Pickett (1974), Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Al Pacino, Frank Sinatra, Joseph Denney, Wayne Newton, and H.B. Halicki. Frank Sinatra had vied with Elvis for the first car. Each car included a dash plaque naming its original owner. The price for 1972 was US$23,000 but spiked to US$43,000 the next year. About 500 Blackhawks had been produced when production ended in 1987.

Fictional owners of this car

*Bill "Blaze" Blazejowski (played by Michael Keaton) in the movie, Night Shift. The 1981 model is featured in the movie. The car appears to be a 4-door model.

* In the movie 8mm, James Gandolfini's character "Eddie Poole" has a black Stutz Blackhawk

* In the movie Never Die Alone, DMX's character "King David" owns a Stutz Blackhawk, which is then inherited by David Arquette's character "Paul Paskoff".

* An episode of Dragonball GT features the appearance of an escape vehicle with a remarkable likeness to the Stutz Blackhawk.

References

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