Stutz was at the forefront of the automobile's development in America in the late Twenties. Its single overhead camshaft straight eight engine was smooth and powerful. Hydraulic brakes, radios integrated into the dashboard and supercharging were among the innovations adopted by Stutz well before most of its competitors. Professionals appreciated Stutz's leadership, including New York City coach maker Adolph Schneider. Born in Germany in 1896, Schneider emigrated to the U.S. in 1913, joining two sisters already living in Brooklyn. A year later he went to work for Sharebolt Manufacturing Co. where he learned the trades of the custom coach maker from the ground up. After a brief period with Locke he opened his own shop as a journeyman metal former in 1930. He would continue at the trade until retirement a half century later. About 1935 Schneider built his first personal custom. He used a Stutz chassis. Two more followed, culminating in the remarkable 1930 Model M-based coupe offered here. Built in 1938 on the long wheelbase MB chassis, it incorporates a number of details including the roof skin and trim made of stainless steel, a material with which Schneider worked in many projects for the government and Navy. The Stutz radiator is moved far forward to line up with the front of the tires and flanked by headlights and parking lights recessed in nacelles. The boattail rear deck encloses a huge trunk, said to have been used by Schneider to deliver fire truck fenders, doors and roof assemblies formed in his shop to the Mack fire equipment factory in Long Island City, a long term customer. The dashboard continues Schneider's use of stainless while the steering wheel appears to be cast aluminum. The smooth-sided body has no visible running boards but hidden ones extend automatically when the doors open. The Schneider Stutz's workmanship and ingenuity are exceptional, no doubt contributing to its acquisition in 1976 by Rudy Creteur, former chief designer at Rollston and owner of its successor, Rollson. In the mid-80's it was restored for Creteur's daughter in the shop formerly owned by Bob Gassaway where Schneider had worked until his retirement, the work being done to the highest standards. A striking automobile, its unique coachwork, many fascinating details, quality restoration and colorful story make it especially attractive to Concours organizers. It has been written up in articles in the Stutz News and Old Cars Weekly. In one of them Schneider is noted remarking that the giant trunk also served him and his wife well on the long road trips they made in it, holding weeks of luggage. Encountering it on the road on one of those trips must have been an experience.

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