Legacy Metrics

1929 Stutz Model M Lancefield Coupe (supercharged)

M-C-31312roadUnited States
Engine
5.3L (325 cu. in.) SOHC inline-eight with centrifugal supercharger, est. 185 bhp
Colour
Black with red striping

This 1929 Stutz Model M supercharged coupe, chassis M-C-31312, is one of only three known surviving factory-blown Stutz automobiles — built to compete at Le Mans and bodied in Britain by Lancefield for London broker Brainsby-Woolard. Its centrifugal supercharger produces an estimated 185 bhp. After decades hidden in a Vermont barn, the car was spectacularly revealed at the 1996 'King Stutz Tomb' estate auction, subsequently restored twice, and has accumulated an exceptional concours record including Best in Class at the 2000 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.

Ownership

  1. Auction sale
  2. → 1946
    Unknown owner in the English Midlands
    partial documentation

    Identity not established; located somewhere in the Midlands region of England prior to postwar sale.

  3. 1946 → 1993Private sale
    Alexander Kennedy Miller
    partial documentation

    Purchased during a UK car-hunting trip; car was photographed outside a London relative's house before being shipped to the US. Kept among a large hidden Stutz collection at a Vermont farm until his death.

  4. 1993 → 1996Inheritance
    Miller Estate
    partial documentation

    Car remained in the estate for approximately three years following Miller's death before the collection was auctioned publicly.

  5. 1996 → 2000Auction
    David Cohen
    partial documentation

    Canadian collector who purchased the car at the estate sale; commissioned a full restoration in black with red accents before entering it in competitive events.

  6. 2000 → 2006Private sale
    Skip Barber
    partial documentation

    Had extensive mechanical work performed by Holman Engineering in Massachusetts, including a full supercharger rebuild with upgraded internals and carburetor replacement, with further work through 2005.

  7. 2006 → 2010Private sale
    John O'Quinn Collection
    partial documentation

    Car entered this well-known collection following a concours win in 2006.

  8. 2010 →Private sale
    Richard Mitchell
    partial documentation

    Stutz specialist who commissioned a full re-restoration by Old Iron Works of Montgomery, Texas, covering mechanical, brightwork, and coachwork; car exhibited extensively at concours events thereafter.

Competition

  1. 1928
    1928 Le Mans 24 Hours
    2nd overall

    A stock Stutz entered by a French syndicate recorded an average speed of approximately 106.5 mph; this result was reportedly the best by an American car at the event until 1966.

  2. 1929
    1929 Le Mans 24 Hours
    One car retired, one finished 5th overall

    Three supercharged Stutz entries participated; one withdrew in 4th position and another finished behind four Bentley cars. This chassis is one of the three supercharged cars prepared for that effort.

  3. 1997
    1997 Beijing–Paris Motor Challenge
    Driver: David CohenDNF — electrical spares unavailable

    A 45-day grueling rally entered with virtually no test miles post-restoration; the car ran well but ultimately withdrew due to inability to source critical electrical components.

  4. 2000
    2000 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
    Best in Class; Briggs Cunningham Trophy

    Car was freshened following its rally ordeal before being shown at this prestigious concours.

  5. 2006
    2006 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance
    Best of Show
  6. 2011
    2011 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

    Exhibited in a dedicated Stutz feature class following re-restoration by Old Iron Works.

  7. 2012
    Keeneland Concours
    Best of Show

    First of two Best of Show wins at this event.

  8. 2012
    CCCA Annual Meeting
    99.75 points; Senior badge no. 3027
  9. 2014
    Keeneland Concours
    Best of Show

    Second Best of Show victory at this venue.

  10. Hilton Head Island Motoring Festival
    Best of Show
  11. Ault Park Concours
    Best of Show
  12. Santa Fe Concours
    Best of Show
  13. Milwaukee Masterpiece
    Best of Show

Maintenance & restoration

  1. 1996
    Restoration

    Full restoration carried out for David Cohen, finished in black with red coachline striping and a red interior.

    Work was completed with virtually no break-in mileage before the car was shipped to China for the 1997 rally.

  2. 2000
    Service

    Car was freshened and recommissioned after the rigours of the Beijing–Paris rally in preparation for Pebble Beach.

  3. 2003Mechanical
    Holman Engineering

    Thorough mechanical sorting commenced, including a full rebuild of the centrifugal supercharger with upgraded internal components and fitting of a rebuilt correct carburettor, along with other mechanical improvements.

    Work was carried out over the period 2003–2005 under Skip Barber's ownership at this Massachusetts specialist firm.

  4. 2010Restoration
    Old Iron Works

    Comprehensive second restoration covering full mechanical evaluation and reconditioning of engine and chassis, re-plating of all bright trim, and complete refinishing of the coachwork.

    Commissioned by Richard Mitchell; shop based in Montgomery, Texas.

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Each chassis record is compiled from public auction archives and links to its source material. Ownership, competition and maintenance entries are extracted from those catalogue listings by an LLM, which can make mistakes — please contact us with any corrections. The summary is Legacy Metrics’ own writing; we do not reproduce catalogue text.

“Full” and “partial” documentation labels indicate how well each entry is corroborated in the underlying sources, not an audit of the car’s physical paperwork. Names of recent or living owners are withheld for privacy.