1919 Pierce-Arrow Series 51 Tourer

This Series 51 Pierce-Arrow Touring car is one of two of its type known to still exist. Built during the 'Golden Era' of PIerce-Arrow, the coachwork is crafted entirely from aluminum castings save for the hood, which was fabricated from sheet copper. The sleek coachwork is enhanced by the low doorline and the lines from the top of the radiator to below the windshield. The Series 51 was expensive in its day, priced at $7,650 for a bare chassis to $9,450 for the largest coach-built cars. This car has the desirable four-valve, 6-cylinder engine configuration that makes the large tourer feel more like a sporty Mercer or Stutz Bearcat. The car was once owned by California collector and Pierce-Arrow expert John Mozart before it passed into the long-term ownership of another Pierce-Arrow collector, Charles Sparrer, who drove it on many tours of the United States. Its current owner acquired the car in 2018.

Pierce-Arrow introduced their first six-cylinder car in 1907. It had a very large 618.5 cubic-inch inline six which rested on a 135 inch wheelbase and weighed over two tons. These were luxurious and prestigious cars which had price tags that ranged from $6,500 to $7,750 - more than twice the price of a Cadillac. Regardless of its steep price, the production run was sold out before the year began.

President Taft was the first United States president to use an automobile for formal occasions. He ordered two Pierce-Arrows for the White House, a tradition which would continue until 1935.

By 1910, the Pierce-Arrow catalog offered three distinct chassis, establishing an all-six-cylinder range that would see it through the next decade. The smallest model was the Model 36 (later becoming the Model 38) fitted with a 329 cubic-inch straight-six engine and a 129-inch wheelbase. The largest was the Model 66 with power from an 824.7 cubic-inch engine resting on a 147.5-inch wheelbase platform. Positioned between these two was the Model 48.

The Model 48 was named for its fiscal horsepower rating. The 524 cubic-inch T-head inline-six produced as much as 75 horsepower at its 2,500 RPM redline. It was composed of three blocks of two cylinders each, each block cast integral with its head. They had two independent distributors for dual ignition and two spark plugs per cylinder. The oil was sent to the crankshaft and connecting rod bearings under pressure. Pierce-Arrow designed and manufactured its own carburetors, which featured automatic mixture adjustment.

In 1913, the headlamps moved the fenders, though customers were given the option of conventional headlamps, which few customers selected.

In July of 1918, Pierce-Arrow engineers gave their engine four-valve cylinder heads. This Dual Valve Six made the Model 66 redundant. The Model 38 and 48 continued but were renamed the Series 31 and Series 51, respectively. With the launch of the Series 51, the parking lamps were relocated from the cowl and incorporated into the headlamps.

The chassis was comprised of a conventional frame with pressed-steel side members and cross-bracing. The front axle was drop-forged steel and suspended by semi-elliptic leaf springs. In the rear was a semi-floating axle with three-quarter elliptic springs. Brakes were to the rear wheels only, operated by a lever, and an internal expanding brake operated by the foot pedal. Pierce-Arrow was also one of the last United States automakers to use right-hand drive.

The manual transmission used a leather-faced cone clutch.

This particular example is a Series 51 Four-Passenger Touring Car. It is believed that this is one of two examples of its type remaining. The Pierce-Arrow coachwork is crafted entirely from aluminum castings. Conventional sheet metal was only used for the hood which was fabricated from sheet copper.

This four-passenger tourer was priced at $7,650 when new. Other body styles and options ranged from $6,450 for a bare chassis to $9,450 for the largest enclosed cars.

This tourer was once owned by Pierce-Arrow expert John Mozart. It has been in the long-term ownership of a marque aficionado who has driven it on tours and maintained its mechanical and cosmetic condition. The car wears an older, quality restoration that has held up well over the years.

By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2018