In the midst of America’s golden age of motoring, the Stutz Motor Company produced one of the most technically advanced engines of its time: the DV32, a dual-overhead-cam, 32-valve straight-eight designed to bring the marque back into contention with the likes of Duesenberg. Producing 156 horsepower, the DV32 stood as a beacon of engineering ambition—an American answer to European performance and refinement.

But in the years after World War II, long after Stutz ceased production, this 1932 DV32 chassis found a second life through the extraordinary vision of Dr. Elwood Needy of St. Louis. In 1949, inspired by the sleek new Jaguar XK120, Needy set out to build a custom-bodied American roadster that would rival Europe’s best—one that retained the mechanical heart of a true Classic Era great.

Using a 1932 DV32 chassis as his foundation, Needy shortened it to 116 inches, matching the wheelbase of the rare and sporty Stutz Super Bearcat. For the body, he turned to a 1949 Cadillac Series 61, reshaping its form with help from aircraft craftsmen and metalworking experts. A 1951 Studebaker front end was grafted onto the Cadillac’s lines, while the rear was sculpted using custom wooden bucks. Overland Sheetmetal Shaping Company handled the intricate rear coachwork, and the cut-down doors were custom-fabricated by Dr. Needy’s brother, Price Needy.

The result was a one-off custom roadster—a dramatic fusion of postwar styling and prewar substance. Details included a Perspex aircraft-style wraparound windshield, a Cord 810 instrument cluster, and a thoughtfully reimagined cabin layout. Dr. Needy personally rebuilt the DV32 engine in his basement before installing it into the car. Tragically, he passed away in 1952 before the project was fully completed. His son, Dr. E.H. Needy, carried on the effort, completing the car in time for exhibition at the Illinois State Fair.

In 1963, the car was acquired by Edward Hitt, who preserved it for decades before it passed to a respected Stutz collector. By that point, the car remained complete and running, with much of its original custom character intact. In 2022, the roadster was acquired by Tom Maoli, who immediately commissioned a comprehensive restoration by Nostalgia Motors in Boonton, New Jersey, with the goal of preserving its historical authenticity while bringing it to world-class concours standards.

Historically, this DV32 custom stands apart not just for its rarity, but for what it represents: the creativity, skill, and passion of American enthusiasts in the postwar era who saw the potential in preserving—and reinterpreting—the engineering masterpieces of the past. So significant is this car’s story that historian Ken Gross extended a tentative invitation to the 2023 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, recognizing its importance as a bridge between Classic Era engineering and 1950s custom culture.

Now under restoration, this one-of-a-kind Elwood Needy Special is poised to return to the world stage—reborn yet unmistakably authentic, and still powered by the twin-cam roar of one of America’s greatest straight-eights.