Stutz's last and finest — a 32-valve, twin-cam straight-eight from a company on its way out.
The Stutz DV32 (1931–1935) was Stutz's final flagship — a 5,278cc twin-overhead-camshaft inline-eight with 32 valves (four per cylinder) producing 156 bhp. Marketed against Cadillac's V16 and Packard's Twelve, the DV32 was technically more sophisticated than either rival but came too late and too expensive for a Depression-era market. Coachwork by LeBaron, Weymann, Rollston and others gave the DV32 chassis some of the most elegant of all 1930s American open and closed bodies. Production was small — perhaps 200 DV32 chassis in total — before Stutz ceased production in 1935.
Technically the most sophisticated American engine of its era; the swansong of one of America's great pre-war marques.
| Variant | Years | Production | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DV32 chassis | 1931–1935 | Not separately recorded | 5.3-litre DOHC straight-eight; multiple body styles. |
| Bearcat / Super Bearcat | 1931–1934 | Not separately recorded | Sporting open coachwork. |
For pre-war and vintage cars such as the Stutz DV32, provenance is paramount. Chassis and engine number matching, period coachbuilder records, factory build sheets where available, continuous ownership documentation, original handbooks and any competition or concours history are the foundation of value. Body style (Speedster > Convertible > Sedan), coachbuilder, original engine, continuous history.
The DOHC 32-valve eight is sophisticated and supported by a tiny specialist community; rebuilds are correspondingly costly. A pre-purchase inspection by a recognised marque specialist should include compression and leak-down testing, magneto and ignition checks, chassis straightness and frame survey, axle and steering wear assessment, brake system review (mechanical or hydraulic per period), and an extended road test on varied terrain to expose carburation, cooling and gearbox issues that only emerge under sustained running.
Pre-war coachwork is rarely truly original after a century of use. Establish whether the body is original to the chassis (period photographs, build records, coachbuilder plates), whether it has been re-bodied at any point, and the standard of any restoration. Quality of timber framing, ash health, panel beating and paint depth are all critical. Concealed structural rot, re-bodies presented as original, and 'tribute' cars built on later or unrelated chassis must be priced accordingly.
Speedster bodywork by LeBaron or Weymann lead values; sedans and limousines trade more modestly. For vintage cars, event eligibility — Mille Miglia, Goodwood Revival, Pebble Beach, VSCC events, Le Mans Classic — can underwrite a substantial proportion of market value. Verify FIA/FIVA papers, period race history where claimed, and the car's standing with the relevant marque registry before purchase.
| Date | Auction | Car | Mileage | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-16 | Gooding Christie's Pebble Beach Auctions, Lot 133 | 1932 DV-32 Convertible Coupe | — | $252,000 Sold |
| 2023-08-17 | RM Sotheby's Monterey, Lot 331 | 1933 DV-32 Convertible Victoria | — | $1,517,500 Sold |
| 2023-08-17 | Broad Arrow Radius at the Monterey Jet Center, Lot 261 | 1932 DV-32 Weymann Super Bearcat | — | $731,000 Sold |
| 2023-08-17 | RM Sotheby's Monterey, Lot 366 | 1932 DV-32 Tonneau Cowl Four-Passenger Speedster | — | $190,400 Sold |
Sophisticated engineering and finite production. Sporting bodies firm; closed bodies are usability buys.
Our view, not advice. This section is Car Collector International's editorial judgement on where this model sits in the collector market, based on the production, specification and market data set out in this guide. It is not a recommendation to buy or sell and it is not investment advice. Values can fall as well as rise.
Get new buyer's guides and collector market intelligence delivered to your inbox. No spam. We respect your inbox.
The valuation figures in this guide are for research purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice. See our full disclaimer.
