1913 Pierce-Arrow Model 38-C Runabout

George N. Pierce was a bicycle manufacturer. It began when he was a partner at Heintz, Pierce, and Munschauer, a Buffalo, New York, company that made bird cages. The firm later branched out into ice boxes and bath tubes. In 1872, Pierce bought out his partners, then renamed the company for himself and embarked on pedal-powered transportation. When interest began to grow in self-propelled vehicles, he built a steam car in 1900. That November, a gasoline-powered car was operating. The following year, the manufacture of a de Dion-engined 'Motorette' began.

In 1904, the four-cylinder Great Arrow was introduced. Pierce's son Percy drove one in the inaugural 1905 Glidden Tour, winning the reliability contest. Pierce vehicles would go on to win the next four Glidden Trophy events. The name 'Pierce' and 'Arrow' became so linked that the company was renamed Pierce-Arrow in 1909.

In 1907, the company introduced its first six-cylinder Pierce, the Model 65-Q. The engine had a T-head configuration, just like the fours that preceded it. The six displaced 648 cubic inches and offered suitable power to carry the large 135-inch wheelbase Pierce chassis. The last Pierce fours were built in 1909. For 1910, there were three sixes, of 36-, 48- and 66-rated horsepower. In 1913, a new 38-horsepower car arrived and would remain in production for six years.

This particular Pierce-Arrow is one of seven hundred fifty-first series 38s, built near the close of 1912. The car was delivered new to the Schick Foundry in Belmont, California, for use by the Schick family.

This 1913 Pierce-Arrow Model 38 Roadster was originally a four-door open Touring Model 38 C. It is powered by a six-cylinder Pierce engine developing 38 horsepower. The car rides on a 132-inch wheelbase, weighs 4200 pounds, and was priced at $4,800. A total of 750 cars were produced.

It remained in the same family and was re-bodied to a Roadster in 1952. Essentially, the rear seat was replaced with a roadster gas tank and a twin concealed seat as was found in the original Roadster. It has a miniature four-cylinder engine and four forward gears. It came equipped with an air starter and it contains a compressed air tank under the right side. Cadillac came out with an electric starter in 1913 and most newer Pierces converted to electric. The current owners are the second owners of this Pierce.