Stutz Fire Engine 1925 - World Of Classic Cars -

175hp, overhead cam straight six-cylinder engine cast in pairs, manual transmission, front and rear full-elliptic leaf springs and four-wheel drum brakes.

Stutz Fire Engine 1925

Harry C. Stutz’s place in automotive history would have been secure on the strength of the Bearcat, the stripped down speedster that piled up a string of racing performances and built the brand image that sold thousands of production Stutzs. However, his legacy spans much farther, and diverted drastically from his sports car origins.

Harry Stutz sold his remaining stock in the company that bore his name in 1919 in the wake of financier Alan Ryan’s acquisition of controlling interest. Changing gears, Harry Stutz founded two new companies, the Stutz Fire Engine Company and the H.C.S. Motor Car Co. The first pumper built by the Stutz Fire Engine Company earned a perfect score in a 12-hour test at a major fire chief's convention. 

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So impressed were those in attendance, several localities placed orders on the spot for a new Stutz Fire Engine. Ever restless, Harry Stutz would leave his fire engine company in 1924 to focus all his energy on the H.C.S Motor Car Co. 

Without Harry Stutz’s guidance, the fire engine company would fold in 1929, only to be acquired by A.C. Mecklenberg, a former engineer for Stutz, in late 1929. Mecklenberg moved the operation to Hartford City, Indiana and continued building fire apparatus there until the Second World War. The Stutz fire engine presented here was built the year after Harry Stutz’s departure from the company and by virtue of its intended purpose it remains in lovely overall original condition. Fire engines in general are rarely driven, used for the occasional parade and, of course, to fight fires (this one saw its last action over 70 years ago).

Stutz Fire Engine 1925

This example was built for the Darby, Pennsylvania Fire Department and is powered by a 175 horsepower engine that is nearly four feet tall and was recently mechanically serviced. The red paint with gold leaf and pin striping is very old, possibly original, showing extensive paint loss, chipping, bubbling and several areas show surface rust. However, the body and frame still appear quite solid, and overall the fire engine shows a charismatic patina suitable to its age. 

The vendor reports that it is exceptionally fun to drive, as it steers easily and rides on new tires. The 750 gallon tank and rotary gear pump are fully operational.

Stutz Fire Engine 1925