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The car was sold new in Hollywood, CA, reportedly to actress Carol Lombard. It was sold soon after her death in 1944 and was put in long-term storage. It was sold again in 1998 and restored over the next couple of years. The car is finished in a lovely shade of green with gray trim and a striking ostrich interior. It is the only 137-inch wheelbase custom LeBaron known to exist today.
This Pierce-Arrow was displayed at the 2005 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance where it was awarded with the Best American Open Car Award with similar impressive achievements at both the Radnor Hunt and Burn Prevention Concours later that year.
It is finsihed in a shade of green with gray trim and has an opulent ostrich interior.
Pierce-Arrows were stately vehicles that commanded admiration and respect and had a price tag to match. The individuals who bought the most elite Pierce-Arrows were individuals that were high on the social ladder and cost was not an issue. The Pierce-Arrow catered to every demand and request, even keeping special colors on hand for important families and only using those colors for those vehicles and non-others. Most of the vehicle was custom, including the carpets, luggage, trunks, and seats. The Pierce-Arrows were more than just a custom and exclusive automobile, they were also known for their quality, reliability, performance, and sophistication.
The slow demise of the Pierce-Arrow Company began when other marques moved away from custom built automobiles to production lines. The mass produced vehicles raised the bar on quality and dependability. Though they could not guarantee exclusivity, they could guarantee a better product at a better price. When Cadillac introduced their 16-cylinder engine in 1929, Pierce-Arrow knew they had to improve their 12-cylinder engine to stay competitive. The Twelve was introduced in 1932 and came equipped with a 452 cubic-inch engine capable of producing 150 horsepower, just slightly below the output of the V16. By 1933, Pierce-Arrow had raised the output of their engine to 175 and the public approved, buying many examples and setting new sales records for Pierce.
1932 was a great year for the Pierce-Arrow Twelve. Ab Jenkins drove a 33,000 mile prototype to the salt flats of Bonneville. he set several records and then drove 2000 miles back to Buffalo. He returned the following year and set nearly 80 new records.
Unfortunately, the Great Depression was taking its toll on the company. Negotiations to merge with Auburn and Reo failed and Pierce-Arrow entered into bankruptcy. Buffalo business rescued the failing company, raised money and cut the work-staff by half. Sales improved for a short while but not enough to sustain the company. In 1937 the company closed its doors forever.
The slow demise of the Pierce-Arrow Company began when other marques moved away from custom built automobiles to production lines. The mass produced vehicles raised the bar on quality and dependability. Though they could not guarantee exclusivity, they could guarantee a better product at a better price. When Cadillac introduced their 16-cylinder engine in 1929, Pierce-Arrow knew they had to improve their 12-cylinder engine to stay competitive. The Twelve was introduced in 1932 and came equipped with a 452 cubic-inch engine capable of producing 150 horsepower, just slightly below the output of the V16. By 1933, Pierce-Arrow had raised the output of their engine to 175 and the public approved, buying many examples and setting new sales records for Pierce.
1932 was a great year for the Pierce-Arrow Twelve. Ab Jenkins drove a 33,000 mile prototype to the salt flats of Bonneville. he set several records and then drove 2000 miles back to Buffalo. He returned the following year and set nearly 80 new records.
Unfortunately, the Great Depression was taking its toll on the company. Negotiations to merge with Auburn and Reo failed and Pierce-Arrow entered into bankruptcy. Buffalo business rescued the failing company, raised money and cut the work-staff by half. Sales improved for a short while but not enough to sustain the company. In 1937 the company closed its doors forever.
| Photos grouped by event | |
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2006 RM Auctions at Amelia Island |
2005 Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance |
1933 Pierce Arrow Twelve Model 1242 |
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| Year | 1933 |
| Make | Pierce Arrow |
| Model | Twelve Model 1242 |
| Body Style | Convertible Sedan |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Production Years for Series | 1932 - 1938 |
| Coach Work | LeBaron |
| Price | $3,950.00 |
| Weight | 5256 lbs | 2384.1 kg |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown | |
| Chassis Number | 355091 |
| Performance | |
| Top Speed | 185 km/h | 115 mph Similar top speeds |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | V |
| 80-degree | |
| L-Head | |
| Cylinders | 12 |
| Water-Cooled | |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 426.00 CU IN. | 6982.1 cc. | 7 L. |
| Valves | 24 valves. 2 valves per cylinder. |
| Valvetrain | SV |
| Horsepower | 175.00 BHP (128.8 KW) |
| Torque | 175.00 Ft-Lbs (237.3 NM) |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 30.0 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 25.0 BHP / Liter |
| Compression Ratio | 6.00:1 |
| Block | Cast-iron |
| Head | Cast-iron |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 3 |
| Transmission | Manual |
| Final Drive | 4.21:1 |
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| Additional Resources and Links |
| Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Official Website |
| RM Auctions at Amelia Island Official Website |
| 1933 Pierce Arrow models |
| 1236 Twelve |
| 836 |
| Silver Arrow |
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com
Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com