1934 Pierce-Arrow Model 840A Coupe

In 1909, just eight years after the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company's inception, the White House ordered two for state occasions. From that point on, the Pierce-Arrow name would be synonymous with the ultimate in motoring luxury, taking its place next to Cadillac, Rolls-Royce, and Packard. The company's clients included s of state, royalty, and celebrities including Emperor Hirohito of Japan, the Shah of Persia, King ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia, King Albert of Belgium, American Presidents Woodrow Wilson, William Howard Taft and Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John D. Rockefeller, Orville Wright, Babe Ruth, and Ginger Rogers.

The early ownership history is not fully known; it was owned by J. Christoffels, of Rutherford, New Jersey in the 1970s. It was later owned by another Rutherford resident, Richard D. Locke, and then by Bruno Kaplan, of Suffield, Connecticut. It was purchased by another caretaker who performed a comprehensive restoration that was completed in 2008. The car is finished in a combination of Pierce Beige over a buttoned brown leather interior.

Pierce-Arrow built 47 coupes in 1934 and this example is documented as the final example (seven examples are known today). It has the patented Pierce-Arrow Frenched headlight treatment, running boards, and a rear-mounted spare. It is the only coupe configured in this fashion.

The 385 cubic-inch L-head inline 8-cylinder engine has a Stromberg Downdraft carburetor and delivers 140 horsepower at 3,400 RPM. There is a three-speed manual gearbox with Freewheeling, four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes with power assist, and four-wheel semi-elliptical leaf-spring suspension.

Since the restoration was completed, the car has been driven just 1500 miles. It has Art Nouveau styling, with a swept tail and flush rumble seat lid.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2016