Stutz Royale

Vehicle Overview

The Stutz Royale is a ceremonial limousine constructed in extremely limited numbers between 1976 and 1980 by Stutz Motor Car of America. It was conceived as a flagship representation of neoclassical excess, built upon an extensively modified Cadillac DeVille chassis. Design was executed by Paolo Martin, an Italian stylist, with coachwork fabricated by Carrozzeria Fontana in Italy. The vehicle was intended for heads of state and royal clientele, reflecting a level of luxury that exceeded prevailing norms of the era. The Royale measured approximately 7,500 mm in length and weighed nearly 3,000 kilograms. It retained the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration of its donor chassis and was powered by a standard Cadillac V8 engine, paired with a three-speed automatic transmission. Mechanical alterations were minimal, with the focus placed instead on visual and interior transformations. Design development presented logistical challenges. The absence of factory chassis drawings necessitated full-scale freehand drafting. The body was designed on a ten-meter length of translucent drafting paper affixed to two adjoining walls, with construction lines established using cord, plumb bob, and level. Despite the unconventional process, the result was executed without revision, and the final form adhered to the brand’s highly ornate stylistic idiom. The vehicle featured armor plating as standard equipment, alongside a hydraulically elevating and rotating throne, onboard refrigeration, bar, intercom, telephone, reel-to-reel audio system, television, and a full Baccarat crystal service. Interior metal components were finished in 18-karat gold plate. The Royale was offered at a retail price of $285,000 USD, making it the most expensive automobile available globally at the time of its launch. Three units are known to have been completed. Two were commissioned by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, and one was delivered to President Omar Bongo of Gabon. Each was tailored to individual specifications, including upholstery revisions to comply with regional preferences. The Stutz Royale represents an intersection of American platform engineering and Italian coachbuilding tradition, executed in the service of political symbolism and display. Its extreme rarity and singular purpose render it a notable artifact within the domain of state ceremonial vehicles and bespoke automotive manufacture.