1906 Pierce-Arrow Great Arrow Tourer

Pierce-Arrow built its first single-cylinder Motorette in 1901 with an engine licensed from de Dion. In 1903, it produced a two-cylinder car named the Arrow, and a year later it built a larger, more luxurious car called the Great Arrow, which became Pierce's most successful product. In 1905, the solidly built, four-cylinder Great Arrow was entered in the Glidden Trophy, an endurance run to celebrate the most reliable cars. Thirty-three cars drove the 1,100 miles from New York City to Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, and the race was won by Percy Pierce, driving a Great Arrow very similar to this example. This car was bought new by railroad tycoon James J. Hill and was used by him on his many travels throughout the United States. It often traveled in its own railway carriage. It was even driven around 17-Mile Drive in Pebble Beach, where Hill's son Louis was one of the original residents. This Great Arrow is one of the most well-traveled cars to survive from the early days of motoring.