1928 Stutz Series BB Speedster (Philips Custom Body phaeton)
- Engine
- Straight-eight, ~115 hp
A 1928 Stutz Series BB Speedster with custom phaeton coachwork by Philips Custom Body Company of Warren, Ohio — believed to be the only phaeton that coachbuilder produced that year. Commissioned by the Finnish government as an official dignitary and parade vehicle, it served in that role until 1960 and retains its original flag holders. Subsequently owned by a Finnish vintage-racing enthusiast, it passed to an American collector before reaching its current keeper. The odometer shows just under 71,000 kilometres, thought to be original.
Ownership
- —Auction saleSold US$156,800
- 1928 → 1960Factory deliveryGovernment of Finlandpartial documentation
Commissioned as a custom-built dignitary transport and parade vehicle; original flag holders remain and mileage is believed to be original from new delivery.
- 1960 → 1994Private saleHeikki Vilamopartial documentation
Finnish owner who used the car in vintage motorsport events before placing it in storage around 1969, where it sat until sold by his family.
- 1994 → 2016-02-01Private saleRoy Maloolpartial documentation
American businessman who purchased the car from the Vilamo family, repatriated it to the United States, drove it once, then kept it in climate-controlled storage in New Hampshire.
- 2016-02-01 →Private saleCurrent consignorpartial documentation
Commissioned a thorough mechanical restoration by a New Hampshire specialist, including engine servicing, brake rebuilding, and fabrication of new stainless-steel water jackets.
Competition
- 1965Vintage races in Finland, Sweden, and GermanyDriver: Heikki Vilamo
Vilamo entered the car in multiple vintage events across three countries over a three-year span ending in 1967.
Maintenance & restoration
- 1965Bodywork
The original convertible hood was replaced with a new unit.
- —Bodywork
The exterior was repainted at some point; the body has reportedly never been separated from the chassis frame.
Believed to have occurred before Roy Malool's ownership, which began in 1994.
- —MechanicalClassic Auto Services
Comprehensive mechanical recommissioning covering engine and cooling system flushing, oil pan removal and cleaning, brake reconditioning including master cylinder and wheel cylinder rebuilds, removal and thorough cleaning of original water jackets with fabrication of replacement stainless-steel items and correct new gaskets, installation of a new-old-stock muffler sourced from the car's original Finnish delivery crate, vacuum fuel pump rebuild, fitting of a reproduction aluminium Zenith carburettor built from the original as a pattern, jet reclamation and tuning, and manufacture and installation of a new water pump spindle.
Work was carried out by Bob Waller at Classic Auto Services in New Hampshire; carburettor was built by John Gruner; jet tuning and water pump spindle work performed by George Holman at Holman Engineering.
- —Bodywork
The existing convertible hood was re-stretched, and a cracked wooden bow was repaired with Dutchman patches at the stress points on both sides.
- —Inspection
A current New Hampshire state roadworthiness inspection was passed, confirming the car is drivable.
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This car's public record is built from its auction and competition history. Register your ownership and privately add your own records to make it a verified Legacy Metrics passport — provenance that backs your car's value at sale and gives your insurer evidence to price against. Roy reviews and verifies every registration personally.