1916 Pierce Arrow Model 66 1916 Pierce Arrow Model 66 1916 Pierce Arrow Model 66 1916 Pierce Arrow Model 66
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The 825 cubic inch six cylinder in the Pierce-Arrow '66' is the largest stock engine ever designed for a passenger car. It could surpass 80 miles-per-hour and still get 9.20 miles-per-gallon. The body is constructed of 1/8 inch cast aluminum. The running board tool boxes are a rare factory option and incorporate a folding step for access. 13 of these cars are known to exist.

This 1916 Pierce-Arrow 66 is very similar to one used by President Woodrow Wilson from 1913 to 1921. The car he used was a Model A4-66. Wilson left office in a 1921 Packard. Wilson was also the first President to join the AAA and displayed the auto club symbol proudly on his Pierce-Arrow.

Ellen Axon Wilson favored a Baker Electric.

Source - Canton Classic Museum
 
This 1916 Pierce-Arrow Model 66 was built on a 145-inch chassis and is believed to be the only existing Model 66 with a three-seat race-about body. This was a very sporty configuration for this era of car. Its straight six-cylinder engine is a mammoth 825 cubic-inches that dwarfs today's motors. At 1500 rpms it develops an impressive 100 horsepower. The engine has a single updraft carburetor with side valves and a T-head configuration. With a top speed of 80 mph it was a very fast luxury car for its day.
The Pierce-Arrow Model 66 was one of the pinnacles of American design and craftsmanship of the early Twentieth century. Just like all Pierce-Arrows since 1910, they were powered by a six-cylinder engine. Originally they had a bore of 5.25-inches and a stroke of 5.5-inches giving it 714 cubic-inches of displacement. By 1913 it had grown to have a bore of 5-inches and a stroke of 7-inches. The engine displaced 825 cubic-inches and was double the size of many of its competitors. At 1600 RPM's, the engine was capable of producing 60 horsepower. This means the Type 66 was not only an elegant automobile, it was also a very fast machine. It is believed that the Type 66 had the largest displacement engine ever to power a production automobile. It had 44 more cubic-inches than the Bugatti Type 41 Royale. With an engine of this magnitude, it consumed lots of fuel. The miles-per-gallon was around 8.5, meaning the 36 gallon fuel tank was good for nearly 300 miles. This often posed problems for the drivers, as gas stations were not always readily available.

Pierce-Arrow placed this mammoth engine in a chassis that measured 147.5-inches. It was a suitable platform for many coachbuilders to work their trade. Pierce-Arrow was among the first to use cast aluminum panels in their bodywork, reducing the overall weight of the vehicle while maintaining a high degree of structural rigidity and strength.

In 1914 an electric starter was added. A pressurized fuel delivery system using an engine-operated air pump to pressurize the tank appeared in 1915.

In 1916 Pierce-Arrow introduced their final iteration of the Model 66, the Series 4. This would remain in production until 1918.

From 1910 through 1918, there were 1250 examples of the Model 66 produced. It is believed that around fourteen have survived in modern time and only seven are the Model 66 A-4 series.

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Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance

Canton Classic Car Museum

1916 Pierce Arrow Model 66

Year1916
MakePierce Arrow
ModelModel 66
Engine LocationFront
Drive TypeRear Wheel
Production Years for Series1910 - 1918
MPG Highway4
Combined MPG0.00

Engine  
Engine ConfigurationI
T-Head
Cylinders6
Aspiration/InductionNormal
Displacement825.00 CU IN. | 13521.8 cc. | 13.5 L.
Horsepower140.00 HP (103 KW) @ 1800.00 RPM
HP / Liter10.4 BHP / Liter
Fuel TypeGasoline - Petrol

Standard Transmission
Gears4
TransmissionManual


 
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Articles and Event Coverage
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
Canton Classic Car Museum

Additional Resources and Links
Canton Classic Car Museum Official Website
Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance Official Website


Other Model Years
1918 Model 66 A-4
1917 Model 66
1913 Model 66
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