Automatter

Auction of Don Short's Stutz collection was no short sale

  
The collection of Don Short, which included 8 Stutz automobiles, inside the Port Townsend Aero Museum, awaiting auction. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  Oftentimes, automobile collectors will pick one marque as their favorite; and then, they'll fill as many buildings as they can with variants of it; but not many collectors have chosen the legendary American make of Harry Stutz.

When they do, those collections aren't large ones, due to the fact that Stutz didn't make a lot of cars, to begin with, and thus fewer survived than most other serial production cars. Harry C. Stutz, the founder, was able to see his company produce 759 cars in its first year, 1913, increasing production to just 2.207 by 1917. Frederick E. Moskovics arrived in 1926 to take the company over from its founder; and introduced new open and enclosed auto “Safety Stutz” models that same year. By  1933, production of Stutz automobiles was somewhere under 50; exact production figures, are unavailable.

However, given the history of Stutz, any collection of them is important. Harry Stutz, based in Indianapolis, built a racing car with his name on it, in just five weeks, to prove the durability of his gearbox/rear-axle unit. He then entered that car in the first Indy 500 and finished eleventh; thus, was born the company's slogan, “The car that made good in a day.”

 
The 1929 Stutz Blackhawk L-6 two-passenger Speedster from the Short collection. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

 
The overhead camshaft, 85 horsepower, 6 cylinder engine installed in the 1929 Stutz Blackhawk. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  Moskovics followed in those footsteps. A Stutz Black Hawk Speedster finished second in the 1928 24 Hours of LeMans.

  That's what led people from around the world to take notice of an auction in Port Townsend, Washington, up in the upper left part of the United States, on May 21. The offerings were a collection of 24 early American automobiles, including 8 Stutzautos, and a diverse collection of Stutz spares parts, literature and photos. Other manufacturers included Buick, Cadillac, Chalmers, Ford, Lambert, Locomobile, Mitichell, Oldsmobile, Pierce-Arrow, Studebaker and Tourist.

The 1919 Tourist model K side-entrance touring car from the Short collection. It sold for $155,500. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  Bonhams & Butterfields did the honors and when things were done, the final tally was almost $1.5 million in sales.

The collection was the legacy of the late Donald M. Short of Port Ludlow, Washington, who'd passed away of leukemia in 2002 at the age of 74. He'd been a real estate investor until his retirement; but he remained a Stutz aficionado until the end; after buying a model K, back in 1953, at the age of 26, according to his wife, Lynette.

 
The 1911 Mitchell model "T" five-passenger touring car from Don Short's collection, awaiting auction. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  “He didn't buy a car unless he could drive it. He paid $300 for that model K and drove it off the dealer's lot.” she said. “Don loved speed. He once had the (Stutz) Bearcat up to 105.”

  Lynette Short said that her husband, “Started with Ford model Ts and went up,” and he liked the Stutz because “it was a heavy car, went very fast and was just an extra good kind of car.”

  Mr. Short developed his a network to assist in his acquisition and maintenance of his collection; including a relationship with Ralph Dunwoodie of the Harrah's Auto Collection. That led to a good collection of spare parts and several automobiles from the collection, including a 1920 Bearcat in 1976.

  When the varied collection of Brass Era cars of Alexander K. Miller, of East Orange, Vermont was auctioned off in 1996 by Christies, Don and Lynette Short were in attendance; and purchased engines and other spares, in order to keep their collection of cars functioning.

 
A 1920 Excelsior/Greuter four-cylinder overhead camshaft engine for a Stutz. It was believed to be the only surviving four cylinder designed by Charles "Pop" Greuter. It sold for $8,775, including buyer's fee. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  Malcom Barber, CEO of Bonhams and sales auctioneer, was certainly the right man to sell this collection; since he personally owns a 1903 Peerless 5-passenger touring car, a 1902 Curved-dash Oldsmobile and a 1914 Cadillac 50 horsepower touring car. While he works from San Francisco, California, he still maintains an apartment with a garage in the United Kingdom and “that's the important bit” he said.

 
Malcom Barber, CEO and auctioneer (at rear of auto) for the Short Stutz auction assists with unloading the bare chassis of a 1911 Buick model 21 touring car.(Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  On Saturday, May 21, the auction started off with service and sales literature, photographs, spare parts and even bodies. Since the parts and body parts are difficult to find, yet crucial to a restoration, the bidding was intense and some of the prices achieved exceeded estimates made, before the auction. For example, three magnetos netted over $13,000; a set of Solarclypse head-lamps sold in excess of $12,870; and a beautiful radiator badge sold for a bid $1,150 (final price, $1,170 with buyer's fee). That badge had been estimated to bring just $150.

 
Interested bidders look through boxes of Stutz parts prior to the auction of Donald Short's collection. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  It was a portent of what was to come, with the automobiles themselves.

  
 Bob Hylend, who knew Don Short for 20 years, looks over the 1920 Stutz Bearcat that sold for $159,000, including buyer's fee. The Bearcat had once been in Bill Harrah's collection. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

 The first car on the docket was a 1929 Stutz Blackhawk L-6 two-passenger Speedster; powered by an in-line 8 cylinder engine, it was identical in most respects to automobiles that raced at Lemans, circa 1929 to '32. Bidding ramped up quickly and when the hammer came down it had sold for $159,000 – a record setting price. This automobile would stay in the States, as it reportedly sold to an American bidder. The previous record for a 1929 Blackhawk was $92,000.

 Lot #602 was a 1920 Bearcat from the Harrah's collection – the same automobile that Don Short had taken on a joy ride to 100 mph. It sold for a record setting $260,000; with the previous record being $64,625. It reportedly sold to a buyer in the Far East, via a bid entered by telephone.

 Lot #604 was the very same 1924 Bulldog 6 that started Don Short's love affair with the marque. It sold for a record-setting $79,560; with the previous record being just $44,650.

 
The 1907 Locomobile model E, five passenger touring car, that sold for $155,500, including buyer's fee. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  Another ex-Bill Harrah automobile, Lot #619, a 1907 Locomobile model E, five-passenger touring car, sold for $155,500; the previous record – via Bonhams itself – was $125,000.

 Lot #614, a 1919 Pierce-Arrow series 31, 38 horsepower with an unusual four-passenger roadster body, sold for $141,200 (including buyer's fee).

 When the auction was over, auctioneer Barber said, “Despite the remote, albeit gorgeous location, collectors and enthusiasts participated en masse,” adding,”We're pleased with the results and witnessed the continuing strength of the collector car market.”

 That's what rarity and good staging will do for an auction. So while the Short collection has been distributed to others, around the globe, the legacy of Stutz has been preserved for future generations. - Terry Parkhurst

For complete results, look at http://www.bonhams.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Car Collector Not Afraid to Get His Hands Dirty: Denny Aker

 

 
Denny Aker stands with the "Pooper," a Cooper racecar, powered by a pushrod-actuated Porsche engine. It was constructed by the late Pete Lovely in 1955. Aker still races it in vintage racing events. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  It seems that these days there's more speculator/collectors than people who really understand the autos, trucks or motorcycles, that they store away, for their inherent engineering or design. That's probably the result of the fact that many collectors haven't ever worked on an automobile; other than to wash and wax it. Nor would they want to do so – too much grease and grime perhaps. Such is not the case with Denny Aker.

What other car collector can say that he or she personally rebuilt the boiler for a Stanley Steamer, a Cord flathead V8 engine, the 312 cubic-inch V8 for a vintage two-seater Ford Thunderbird; as well as a Porsche double-overhead camshaft, four-cylinder engine?

Aker made a living working on Porsches, starting when Porsches were really not-so-distant relatives to that other famous air-cooled auto of the times, the venerable Volkswagen Beetle. The shop he founded, Aker's Porsche in Seattle, Washington is now run by his son Mark with the elder Aker acting as owner emeritus; since he is officially retired from turning wrenches – but only officially.

 
A 1947 Volkswagen, type 1, built on May 14, 1947, is part of Denny Aker's unique and eclectic collection of vintage autos. This VW Beetle was ordered, and delivered, to the U.S. military in Frankfurt, Germany, after the Second World War. Its arrival date in the States, is unknown. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)  

  Aker keeps a small but eclectic mix of collectible cars at a facility in Bothell, Washington. That's where you usually can find him, when he isn't traveling or helping out at the shop.

“Exactly at 8 am,” he says. “It's just like work – but on my own stuff.”

  Indeed, a recent phone call to Aker, found him, working on the transmission for a 1937 Cord sedan that he restored 35 years ago; and is now re-restoring.

  Aker started working on cars, right out of high school, for Volkswagen Washington in Seattle. Like everybody who was new, he started on the lube rack. That was in the late Fifties.

  “Volkswagen Washington was the distributor for the state. Volkswagen was growing so fast then and I learned a lot; they made me a line mechanic. Then, they sent me to school, about a year later.”

  In 1961, Aker was drafted into the (military) service and served two years. When he returned to civilian life, he again worked on German cars; adding Porsches to the mix. .

  He's been driving Porsches, to-and-from work, since 1962. In 1965, he opened his own shop, working on “mostly Volkswagens, and then Porsches and I've never looked back.”

 

The 1931 Rolls-Royce and 1910 Stanley Steamer that started Denny Aker on the road to car collecting; and which he still owns and maintains. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  He started collecting cars with a 1930 Rolls-Royce Newmarket that he bought from a friend in 1969. He purchased it because “I liked the looks of it.” In fact, he still has the car. In 1972, he bought a 1910 Stanley Steamer at the Hershey (PA) swap meet for just $20,000. He also still has that car.

 
Some of the many Porsches in Denny Aker's collection. These are in line for a little reconditioning. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  As you might expect, he also began to collect Volkswagen Beetles and Porsche sports cars. He now has a collection of Porsche sports cars that includes every variation of the 356 series, a 914-6 (with just 1,300 actual miles), a 1985 911 with turbo body modifications and a 1983 911SC cabriolet. Along the way he also picked up a 1972 Jaguar XKE with a V12 engine, a 1932 Auburn four-door phaeton, an air-cooled, 28 cylinder Pratt & Whitney airplane engine, a 1937 Cord Westchester series 812 sedan and a Porsche-powered Cooper race-car.

 
A line-up of vintage motorcycles from the Aker collection. In the lead is a 1942 Indian in-line four cylinder motorcycle, with a 1919 Indian Power-Plus next up. The Power-Plus won best motorcycle at the Kirkland (WA) Concours d'Elegance in 2007. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  Aker's collection also includes an interesting assemblage of vintage motorcycles; key amongst those are three Indians: a 1919 Power Plus, a 1942 In-Line Four and a 1948 Chief. The Power Plus won first place in the Motorcycle Class at the 2007 Kirkland (WA) Concours d'Elegance.

 
The Pratt and Whitney 4360 radial airplane engine, on its display stand, stands out in the midst of the Aker collection. He has it "because I just like mechanical things." (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

   Asked why he has an airplane engine setting on a stand inside his storage and restoration facility, Aker responds, “I just like mechanical things.”

The “Pooper,” might be the most interesting car in Aker's collection. It started life as a Cooper LSR (land-speed record) car, powered by a motorcycle engine. In 1955, the late Pete Lovely, a Volkswagen dealer who raced on weekends, installed a push-rod Porsche engine; thus, it became the “Pooper.” It beat heavier Porsche roadsters; and Lovely drove it to a national championship in the Sports Car Club of America series. 

When asked if he still races the “Pooper” in vintage races, Aker's voice registers an exclamation point, “Oh, yeah! It beat the competition back then, and it still does.”

 
Denny Aker explains the workings of a 1960 Volkswagen Beetle, which he'd equipped with a four-camshaft Porsche Carrera engine, to members of three Volkswagen clubs who visited his facility - Eastside Aircooled, NW Volkswagen Club and Cascade Kombis. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

  The Pooper is rivaled by a 1960 Volkswagen Beetle of similar cast. The Beetle is equipped with a double-overhead camshaft engine from a Porsche 550 Spyder.

There is, however, one automobile that Aker wishes he had in his collection; that he doesn't. It's the Tucker 48.

“My dad ordered a Tucker but didn't get it,” he recalls. “We got a (Tucker) radio. I was raised in Lynden, Washington, born in 1939. I can still recall when a car dealer in Bellingham had one - new. Once, I was at an auction in Indiana, and saw one go for just $8,000. Too bad I didn't buy that one.”

More recently, Aker went to look at a Tucker, the tenth one made, that belonged to one family – several times. A deal could never be put together; but after the owner who'd stored it from public view for years passed away, his widow sold it. In January, that same Tucker sold, at auction, for $575,000 in Arizona.

 
Denny Aker may not have a Tucker, but he does have something which is probably more rare: a Porsche tractor. Here he starts it up and shows it to a member of one of three VW clubs that visited his facility. (Photo by Terry Parkhurst)

   There's a model of a Tucker in a display case of model cars that Aker has in the facility that contains his full-sized collectibles. Ironically, it has the number 10 on it. It's a reminder to Aker of the one that got away. But you could also call it a reminder his enthusiasm for automobiles started early, and continues to this day. - Terry Parkhurst