MTFCA Forum

So I have heard about a car, called a stuts bearcat, that is this?

Expensive.

Harry Stutz built cars. The most famous one was the Stutz Bearcat. It was light and had a powerful engine. Many won races back in the day. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stutz_Bearcat
This Stutz Racer appeared on a HCCA Tour in Sun Valley, ID in 1975. It had raced at Indianapolis. These made the Bearcat popular.
https://mtfca.com/phpBB3/download/file.php?id=66784&t=1

There was a TV series in the 1970’s called “Bearcats” about the adventures of two mercenaries featuring a 1914 Bearcat. I recall it was pretty good. I only watched for the car which was prominently featured. If they borrowed it from the owner to use for the show, I feel sorry for him because they were very rough on it. I think it is still available on DVD. Jim Patrick

PS. Looks a lot like a “Mercer”. Last Photo

Mercer:

ok, thanks! i was given a brass bulb horn that came off of one.

The Stutz Bearcats used in the TV series "Bearcats!" were replicas built by George Barris on modern Ford pickup drivetrains.

There's a gentlemen in here in Minnesota who currently owns one of the replicas.

The Stutz claimed, "There's nothing worser than driving a Mercer".

The Mercer bunch, "You'd have to be nuts to drive a Stutz".

Just a little harmless banter that probably led to a few fistfights.

Almost every early car had a joking slogan hooked to it, used to poke fun at it, or needle the owners.

Knox: - "It sure does!"

Brush: "Wooden wheels, wooden frame, wooden axles, wooden run!"

A Mercer or a Stutz. The epitome of a speedster. Cool.

Almost every early car had a joking slogan hooked to it, used to poke fun at it, or needle the owners.

None more than the Model T:

Found On Road Dead

Fix Or Repair Daily

I prefer first on race day

The EMF guys and their rivals have a lot of fun that way too.

At least the steering wheel is on the right side

Although we never had the series here (as far as I'm aware) this may bring back memories for some:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=937oq2h_j9Q

Update: Having just had a quick look at episode one elsewhere I see the first car to appear is in fact a Model T (where's the thumbs up icon?!)

Cole's Beatles haircut sure looks outta place . . .

The Stutz Bearcat appeared in1912. The Ford Owner mag was giving information on building speedsters about 1917/1918. Are the Model T Speedsters to be replicas of the Bearcat?

There were other 'racer' or sport bodied autos in the early days, appealing the young man of the day. The Bearcat was only highest quality, and it sold to the well to do gentleman.

The Ford became such a platform for expression of racing, as the car was inexpensive after a year or two. Commercial racer bodies appeared in early teens. And many were made by the owners too, from parts of Fords or other cars.

There certainly were some other makes. Hudson and Overland were among them. I've always be partial to Mercer.