Pierce Arrow 33, 1926 33 | Conceptcarz.com - Pictures, Pricing, Information, Wallpaper, History

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Pierce Arrow is widely regarded as one of America's finest automobile manufacturers. Series 33 debuted in 1921; it would be the flagship model for the company during the 1920s. Pierce pioneered the use of aluminum components and multi-valve engines, yet they waited until 1920 to move the steering wheel to the left side. This 1926 Model 33 Sedan is from the last year of the production run. It features Pierce's trademark fender mounted headlights, which incorporate a grill trimmed in German silver. The body appears to be custom-built to customer specifications.

Source - AACA Museum

The Pierce-Arrow Series 33 was produced from 1921 through 1926. The cars were powered by a six-cylinder 'L'-head engine that produced over 70 horsepower. Both the engine and the design were new for Pierce-Arrow, being introduced in the post World-War I era. The cars were elegant and stately, with a price tag that rivaled other luxury marques of their day. Their high sticker price meant these were exclusive machines finished with all of the luxury amenities available.

The six-cylinder engine had a dual-valve setup, integrated by Pierce-Arrow's chief engineer David Fergusson. The design of the engine was influenced by European techniques and its incorporation into an American engine is a rarity. The dual valves resulted in an increase in performance and better fuel economy. The engine was smooth, reliable, and durable, producing adequate horsepower to carry the large and stately bodies. With the large bodies and powerful engine, adequate brakes were required. The Series 33 were among the first Pierce-Arrows to be given four-wheel mechanical brakes. This setup was utilized over the hydraulic-brake configuration, as the company viewed the hydraulic brakes as less reliable and prone to fluid leaks.

In the front of the car are the unique headlight design, which stick up and bulged-out from the fenders. As the years progressed, the designs altered slightly.

Pierce-Arrow was a strong believer in their six-cylinder engine while other manufacturers were using more powerful and tunable eight-cylinder engines. The Pierce-Arrow design did not change drastically during the 1920s, another potential reason for their ultimate demise. The onset of the Great Depression and problems with management prompted a merge with Studebaker. A short time later the Pierce-Arrows were being equipped with eight-cylinder engines which helped stimulate sales. By the early 1930s a 12-cylinder could be found in the Pierce-Arrows. Their engines were strong and powerful, capturing over 13 speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

In the modern era, around 50 examples of the Series 33 have survived the test of time.