Pierce Arrow 845, 1935 845 | Conceptcarz.com - Pictures, Pricing, Information, Wallpaper, History

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Chassis Num: 2090110

This 1935 Pierce-Arrow Model 845 Four-Door Sedan is a left hand drive vehicle with a 400 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower. Its three-speed manual gearbox sends power to the rear wheels while the four-wheel mechanical brakes provides the stopping power. It is dark green with a green interior. At the 2006 Christies Auction in Monterey, CA at the Jet Center it was expected to fetch between $45000-$65000. The lot with chassis number 2090110 was sold for $49350.

This vehicle sits on a 138 inch wheelbase and has undergone a mechanical upgrade which replaced the original 385 cubic-inch engine with a 400 cubic-inch unit.

George N. Pierce began producing automobiles in 1901. Prior to this his talents were used for making everything from bicycles to birdcages. The first automobile by Pierce was the Motorettes and powered by a DeDion Bouton engine. Within a few years, the vehicles were powered by two-cylinders. In 1904 the Pierce Great Arrow was introduced and its four-cylinder engine with stylish body and superior durability made it extremely popular and sought after. By 1907 Pierce raised the bar even further by offering the Great Arrows with six-cylinder engines. By 1909 the company had changed its name to Pierce-Arrow.

The bodies were comprised of cast-aluminum and throughout the vehicle only the finest materials could be found. The vehicles pioneered the use of power brakes and hydraulic tappets. They were elegant, powerful, reliable, and mechanically advanced. The designs were equally advanced. In 1913 the Pierce-Arrow continued to distinguish itself from the competition by incorporating fender-mounted headlamps which now came standard on all series. Perhaps the pinnacle of mechanical stature was the Model 66 which had a 60 horsepower six-cylinder engine and sat on a wheelbase that was in excess of twelve feet. The price tag was equally as impassive, setting the buyer back between $6500 to $8000.

After World War I the company experienced difficulties due to a variety of problems. In 1924 the company introduced the Series 80 which proved the versatility of the company. Competition had become very fierce for the high-priced automotive segment so Pierce had made the decision to create a lower-priced automobile that continued the company's reputation for elegance and reliability. It was powered by a six-cylinder engine.

The six-cylinder engine may have been part of the ultimate demise of the company. Other marques were offering larger eight-cylinder engines which Pierce was stubborn and felt that the six-cylinder engine was more than adequate. As a result, the competition continued to improve and expanded their clientele base. By 1930 Pierce was playing 'catch-up' as they poured much money and resources into the development of an eight-cylinder engine. Once again, they were a few years too late as many marques introduced twelve-cylinder units. Within a few years Cadillac and Marmon shocked the world with their impressive sixteen cylinder engines that were far suprioer to the rest of the market.

The Pierce eight was a technically advanced engine in all respects. It was outfitted with the best materials and built to high standards and workmanship. By 1931 Pierce had introduced a twelve cylinder engine and was again a player in the multi-cylinder race.

A union with the Studebaker Company was expected to help during the hard times brought on by the Great Depression. The union would prove to be a failure and by 1933 the Pierce-Arrow Company entered receivership. The company was reorganized and by May of 1935 was free of bankruptcy. The company focused on generating revenue for the struggling company. In in effort to cut costs, there was little development and few new designs for the next few years.

The Packard Company was managing to stay afloat by creating a lower-cost line that appealed to a broader market segment and had increased revenue and sales. Pierce-Arrow attempted to mimic their achievement by introducing the low-priced One-Twenty model. The move may have worked if it had been done earlier, and Pierce-Arrow was forced to cease production in 1938. On Friday, May 13th the company was sold at auction.

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Pierce-Arrow was an American automobile manufacturer based in Buffalo, New York, and was active between 1901 and 1938. Best known for its expensive luxury cars, Pierce-Arrows also manufactured commercial trucks, fire trucks, camp trailers, motorcycles, and bicycles. In 1903 Pierce decided to concentrate on making a larger, more luxurious auto for the upscale market, and the Pierce-Arrow automobile was born. This proved to be Pierce's most successful product, and the solidly-built cars with powerful engines gained positive publicity by winning various auto races. During this period, Pierce's high-end products were sometimes advertised as the Great-Arrow. In 1908 Pierce Motor Company was renamed The Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company.

The Pierce-Arrow was a status symbol, owned by many Hollywood stars and corporate tycoons; royalty of many foreign nations had at least one Pierce-Arrow in their collections. Among American luxury cars it was rivaled only by the Peerless and Packard, which collectively received the accolade 'Three P's of Motordom.' Pierce-Arrow advertisements were artistic and understated. Some advertisements featured the car in places an automobile would not normally go, such as the West and other rural settings, a testament to car's ruggedness and quality. This Model 845 Coupe is one of two remaining with a rear-mounted spare accentuating the graceful sweep of the fenders.

Chassis Num: 2090212
Engine Num: 310265

This 1935 Pierce-Arrow Model 845 Club Sedan is one of only 875 Pierce-Arrow motor cars sold in 1935. It was acquired by the current owner in 1935 and has been treated to a restoration since new. This car was part of the Sterling McCall Old Car Museum Collection in Warrenton, Texas for a period of time and even featured in the 1973 motion picture The Sting, staring Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Robert Shaw.

In 2007 it was brought to Carmel, California where it was offered for sale at Bonhams auction, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia. The lot was sold for $46,000 plus premium and tax.

Photos grouped by event
Bonhams, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia	Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance	Christie's at The Monterey Jet Center

1935 Pierce Arrow 845
Year	1935
Make	Pierce Arrow
Model	845
Engine Location	Front
Drive Type	Rear Wheel
Combined MPG	0.00

Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown
Chassis Number	2090110
Chassis Number	2090212
Engine Number	310265

Engine
Engine Configuration	I
	L-Head
Cylinders	8
	Hydraulic valve lifters
Aspiration/Induction	Normal
Displacement	385.00 CU IN. \| 6310.2 cc. \| 6.3 L.
Valvetrain	SV
Horsepower	140.00 HP (103 KW) @ 3400.00 RPM
HP / Liter	22.2 BHP / Liter
Fuel Type	Gasoline - Petrol

Standard Transmission
Gears	3
Transmission	Manual

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1935 Pierce Arrow 845