A 1977 Stutz Blackhawk VI originally ordered by Major League Baseball legend Willie Mays is now being offered for sale, highlighting a rare intersection of sports history and 1970s luxury excess. The car shows just 17,000 miles on the odometer, a notably low figure for a Blackhawk VI and a sign that it was driven rather than preserved as a static collector piece.
Mays owned the car from new until his death in 2024. His Blackhawk stands out not only for its provenance but also for its specification and condition. Finished in Metallic Aqua with a tan Connolly leather interior, the car reflects the highly personalized and extravagant nature of Stutz production during the era. Luxury features include air conditioning, power accessories, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, lambswool floor mats, a car phone, CB radio, and an AM/FM cassette stereo, all accented by woodgrain trim and gold-plated interior details.
The modern Stutz Blackhawk traced its name to the late-1920s Stutz Black Hawk Special land speed car, but the revived model emerged in the early 1970s under New York banker James O’Donnell. Designed by Virgil Exner, the Blackhawk combined dramatic neo-classical styling with Pontiac Grand Prix underpinnings and a 7.5-liter V8 engine paired with a GM TH400 automatic transmission.
Production was complex and costly. Bodies were hand-formed in Italy by Carrozzeria Padane and later Carrozzeria Saturn, requiring roughly 1,500 labor hours per car. Each vehicle featured extensive gold plating, Australian lambswool carpeting, leather upholstery, and wood paneling. Performance was strong for its time despite significant weight, though fuel consumption was notably high.
Between 1971 and 1987, an estimated 500 to 600 modern Blackhawks were produced across seven generations. The cars attracted an unusually long list of celebrity owners, contributing to their lasting cultural presence. While the styling remains divisive, surviving examples are rarely offered for sale, suggesting a dedicated and committed ownership base.
The Mays-owned Blackhawk is being offered from Scottsdale, Arizona, accompanied by original purchase paperwork, manufacturer’s literature, and a clean California title listing the vehicle as a 1978 model year.
Images via Bring a Trailer
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