Antique Car Insurance: History of the Stutz Motor Company

In the history of American motor vehicles there have been hundreds of designers and manufacturers, but few had the ability to eternally distinguish themselves from the crowd. While some early American auto makers were focused on making vehicles widely accessible to consumer, others set out to distinguish themselves as luxurious and extravagant symbols of wealth and leisure. The Stutz Motor Company was one such brand, and the Stutz Bearcat was their claim to fame.

Throughout its lifetime, Stutz Motor Company was known as an American producer of fast cars and vehicles for the rich and famous. The Bearcat has been called the “first American sports car” by some enthusiasts because the early models were essentially a road-friendly version of their racer. Stutz has also been credited with the development of “the under-slung chassis”, which greatly enhanced the safety and cornering of motor vehicles. The technology is still being used today.

Originally produced between 1912 and 1925, the Stutz Bearcat roared through the early part of the twentieth century with enough speed and flash to embody the spirit of the Roaring Twenties. The Bearcat became nearly synonymous with extravagance and luxury at the time. In 1914 it was priced at $2000, which two to three times as much as the average American “basic” car. The Bearcat rose in popularity due largely to its luxurious and fast reputation at much more affordable prices than some of the imported European sports cars of the era.

In 1912, Stutz Bearcats won 25 of the 30 auto races in which they were entered, increasing their prestige and appeal among motor enthusiasts of the time. In 1915 a stock Bearcat was driven by Erwin “Cannon Ball” Baker to achieve the record coast-to-coast drive time of eleven days, seven hours, and fifteen minutes.  This drive was the inspiration for the Cannonball Run race and subsequent film adaptation of the events.

Stutz Motor Company struggled through the great depression and wartime era which lead to vehicle production ending in 1935. The America’s luxury auto makers produced some 35,000 during their twenty-four year run. While the brand was later revived as the Strutz Motor Car of America in 1968, it never again regained its early prominence.

No matter what type of vintage, classic, antique or collector car you own, getting the right insurance to protect your prized vehicles is vital. At Condon Skelly, we know are as passionate about protecting your vehicles as you are about collecting them. We’ve been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage since 1967. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. For more information, contact our antique car insurance specialists today at (866) 291-5694.

Classic Cars: History of the Jaguar

The Jaguar brand wasn’t always the automobile legend we know it as today. It was actually a motorcycle sidecar manufacturer originally, and was founded under a different name, the Swallow Sidecar Company, in 1922. Co-founded by 21-year-old Billy Lyons and neighbor William Walmsley in Blackppol, Jaguar’s legacy has always been about style.

The Jaguar name was made relevant by the production of a series of eye-catching sports cars, such as the XK 120 of 1949, which was developed into the XK 140 and XK 150, and the E Type of 1961. These were all successful vehicles and were prime examples of Lyon’s motto of “value for money”.

The sales slogan for the Jaguar vehicles, which acquired the “Jaguar” name in 1935, was “Grace, Space, Pace”. The exact text of this slogan varied, but always included these three words, as this was what embodied a Jaguar vehicle. After WWII, Jaguar certainly made a name for itself as a producer of stylish, high-performance vehicles.

Although Jaguars were always about style, it wasn’t until the mid-1950’s that they were introduced as luxury vehicles. By then, jaguar cars were recognizable for their distinct styling cues, such as a chrome grill and the leaping jaguar emblem. Through the 50’s and 60’s, Jaguar luxury cars grew larger with each redesign, topping out at more than 200 inches in length by 1970.

The Jaguar brand has quite a distinct history, and is still going strong today. Currently, Jaguar produces 4 distinct models; the XK high-performance coupe and convertible, the XJ luxury model, the mid-size “executive” XF, and the X-Type which is among the upper tier of all luxury cars available today.

Whether you own a classic Jaguar or a modern one, Condon Skelly has the Insurance Policies to keep you financially protected. We’ve been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading classic, antique, and specialty vehicle insurance since 1967. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. For more information, please contact us today at (866) 291-5694.

The Top Reasons to Own a Classic Car

Are you thinking of adding a classic or antique car to your collection, or even purchasing a classic car for the first time? Classic and antique car collecting and restoration is a hobby practiced by people all over the world. Many celebrities even have histories for being car enthusiasts, like Jay Leno for example. He’s known of his huge collection of antique cars and motorcycles going all the way back to the early 20^th century. Here are some of the top reasons to own a classic car.

If you love tinkering.  What car enthusiast wouldn’t love to turn up the hood of a Model T Ford and customize it to their specifications? Or create their own unique “hot rod” from the shell of a discarded car?

If you love car shows. Classic car shows are a great way to share your love of automobiles with other like-minded people. Plus, it’s a great way to show off your pride and joy.

If you want to make a good investment. There are a high number of classic automobiles that are rising in value. Rare cars can only get rarer, and these cars just simply have a “cool” factor.

If you want to preserve history. Many car enthusiasts feel that there is a lot of history involved in each and every classic car, and letting them rust or deteriorate is causing us to lose part of our American heritage.

When you do purchase a classic car, your next step should be insuring it. Remember that a standard auto policy will not cover all the unique financial aspects of owning a classic or antique car. At Condon Skelly, we know how exciting it can be to start a classic car collection. We’ve been helping our customers protect their classics with affordable, industry-leading insurance coverage since 1967. We’re a group of collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals who specialize in insuring all types of collector vehicles. For more information, please contact us today. (866) 291-5694

We recently attended the 2012 Northeast Rod & Custom Car Show in Oak, PA. The quality and variety of customs and hot rods was impressive, so we thought we’d share some with you. It’s great to get out and visit car shows whenever you can – there are great ideas for your own collection, and an opportunity to meet other and share your passion. Now that spring is underway, we hope to be visiting many more car shows in the upcoming months. We’ll keep you posted!

For more on insuring your collector car or hot rod, visit Condon Skelly today.

The 2010 Explorer was actually the last Ford to use the Cologne V6. What’s interesting about this engine? It was produced, in various iterations, continuously since 1968. With a displacement range from 1.8 to 4.0 liters, it fulfilled a diverse role in motivating Fords throughout the late 60s, the 70s, and the 80s. Early models were mostly European Fords (thus the plant in Cologne, Germany). But later models started making their way stateside, until the Cologne V6 powered every small truck Ford sold. The latter-day explorers are the first and only iteration of the Cologne (aside from the specialty Cosworth) to eschew pushrods in favor of single overhead cams. So even drivers buying SUVs just a few years ago were buying into a family of engines dating back over 40 years. An interesting notion about where we came from, and where we’re going.

Horsepower, like many things, continues to grow with the times. Many want bigger, faster, cheaper. Technology and economies of scale are happy to oblige. In some ways, however, it’s remarkable that we’ve come this far, given the effects of the gas crises. The resulting fuel economy efforts devastated the market for power and performance. In the 80s, a typical Ford Mustang had between 88 and 140 horsepower – today’s equivalent of a compact or subcompact economy car. Despite the crises, and the need to clean up our act, the horsepower wars are raging now as much as ever before. Let’s take a look at what five decades will do.

In the 60s, the most powerful production car (by rated net HP) was the Chevy Camaro ZL-1, producing 376 bhp. Today, the list of cars with more power is nearly endless, but let’s focus on the ones that most people can afford. The Camaro ZL-1 was expensive in 1969, but not outlandish – about $43,000 in today’s money. Today’s cars under $43,000 with more than 376 bhp are as follows:

• Chevy Camaro SS – 426 bhp
• Ford Mustang GT – 412 bhp
• Dodge Challenger SRT8 – 470 bhp

It’s nice to see that Detroit has returned to its old hallmark of affordable power for the people. There’s a vast array of European and Japanese cars over 376 bhp, but most of them cost two or three times what these cars cost. The ZL-1 was a rocket ship in its day, and just 5 years ago, none of these cars were around. This decade, however, has marked the return of American Muscle. Not only has the power returned, but fuel economy, engine efficiency, safety, handling, and build quality are all improved across the board in American cars. Truly an impressive feat, and a necessary one. At the current rate of development, even experts struggle to imagine what the next few decades will bring.

For more on classic cars, American muscle cars, and collector car insurance, visit Condon Skelly.

Customs and hot rods comprise a large swath of the collector car market, and come in many guises. Some take a gentle approach to the art of automobile customization. Some prefer to make there’s a bit more evident. And then there are the wild things – cars that are noticed everywhere they go, for the looks, the sound, the performance, or a combination thereof. Here’s a selection of some of the showstoppers we’ve seen lately…

I think we all know this week’s vehicle. It’s one of the best-selling trucks of all time – a household name for several decades. But hardly a collectible, one might say. Especially this model – produced through 2010. What makes this truck interesting, unusual, and in some ways a collectible car at heart? Check back next week to find out.

As always, for more on collector car insurance and collectible cars, visit Condon Skelly today.

Classic cars and classic car insurance are more than just our job – they’re our passion. That’s why we travel around the country attending car shows, and why we know that classic cars are so special to their owners. We’ve been blogging a lot about classic cars, collector cars, and antique cars. Here are the most popular blogs from recent weeks.

• Collector Car Trivia
• New Collector Car Video
• Classic Cars from Pennsylvania

All hail the DAF! The DAF 600 set the world on fire in 1958, introducing several clever design features, but more importantly – the world’s first CVT! A good forty years before CVTs became popular in mainstream vehicles, DAF was blazing the trail with a transmission that had no gears. The CVT, or continuously variable transmission, operated on a belt that would infinitely adjust the transmission ratio to keep the engine in the power band whenever it was needed, and reduce the engine revs for maximum economy when the power wasn’t called for. A brilliant design that can now be found in trucks, sedans, sports cars, and hybrids, owning a DAF is truly owning a notable piece of car history.