Red marquis at 00:42, 19 December 2006

2006-12-19T00:42:52Z

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The '''Stutz Blackhawk''' was an American [[luxury car]] produced from 1971 through 1987. The [[Stutz|Stutz Motor Company]] had been revived by [[James O'Donnell]] and [[Virgil Exner]]-designed car was prototyped by [[Ghia]]. It debuted in January of 1970 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The prototype cost more than US$300,000.

The production Blackhawk used [[Pontiac Grand Prix]] hardware and [[Pontiac]]'s 7.5 L (455 in³) [[Pontiac V8 engine#455|V8 engine]]. Output from the specially tuned engine was 425 hp (317 kW) and 420 ft·lbf (570 N·m). A GM ''TH400'' [[automatic transmission]] was used, allowing the 5000 lb (2300 kg) car to accelerate to 60 mph in 8.4 seconds with a 130 mph top speed. Fuel economy was just 8 miles per [[U.S._customary_units#Liquid_volume|gallon]] (30 L/100 km). Later Blackhawks used Pontiac's ''[[Pontiac V8 engine#403|403]]'' and ''[[Pontiac V8 engine#350|350]]''.

Exner's design included a spare tire that protruded through the trunklid and separate headlights. The interior included gold plated trim and birdseye maple. All early Blackhawks were coupes, but rare [[sedan]]s were produced later.

In 1980, the Blackhawk was redesigned for the [[Pontiac Bonneville]] chassis.

The first production car was purchased by Elvis Presley (who later bought four more), with other famous owners including Sammy Davis Jr., Evel Knievel, Robert Goulet, Larry Holmes, Willy Nelson, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Lucille Ball, Billy Joel, Elton John, Paul McCartney, Al Pacino, Frank Sinatra, Wayne Newton, and H.B. Halicki. Frank Sinatra vied with Elvis for the first car but never bought anymore but he did buy one. Each car included a dash plaque naming its original owner. The price for 1972 was US$23,000 but spiked to US$43,000 the next year. About 500 Blackhawks had been produced when production ended in 1987.

==References==

* {{cite web | title=Blackhawk | work=The Internet Guide to Stutz cars history and models | url=http://www.madle.org/ebh.htm | accessdate=March 1 | accessyear=2005}}

{{Stutz}}

[[Category:Stutz vehicles|Blackhawk]]

Stutz Blackhawk - Revision history

Red marquis at 00:42, 19 December 2006