1935 Pierce-Arrow 845 Convertible Roadster

Pierce-Arrow began by producing bird cages and later bicycles before producing one of the grandest automobiles of all time. One of the 'three Ps' of automotive aristocracy in the United States - including Packard and Peerless - a Pierce-Arrow is instantly recognizable thanks to its unique flared in-fender headlight treatment and Tireur d'Arc elegant hood ornament (translation: simply 'drawer of the bow'). The first Pierce-Arrow archer was slender, partly clothed, and helmeted, but later appeared with all his clothes off, becoming more muscular, and sans helmet. A fellow sweeping the floor of the Pierce-Arrow factory, incidentally, was the model, using his broom for the bow when he posed.

This Pierce-Arrow was sold new in Baltimore, Maryland in 1935, spending much of its early life in nearby Towson. It was cosmetically re-restored in 2010. One of two known convertible coupes, it is one of only 875 cars produced by the Buffalo, New York firm in 1935. Pierce-Arrow was gone after the 1938 model year.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2014