Pierce-Arrow touted their 1936 models as the 'world's safety car.' Their justification for this was the welded and riveted frame comprised of two box side beams, five cross-members and a center X-brace. The 1936 cars were given 36 important and major improvements. Power for the 1601 Series Deluxe 8 was from a 385 cubic-inch 8-cylinder engine offering 150 horsepower. They had a three-speed synchro-mesh gearbox, automatic overdrive and freewheeling. Freewheeling allowed the cars to coast whenever the foot was lifted from the accelerator.