1931 Pierce-Arrow Model 41 Convertible Victoria

For more than three decades the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company of Buffalo, New York, was among the most respected and renowned automakers in America. The company responsible for producing the grandest of luxury cars began by building bird cages. From household products, the company turned to bicycles and then to automobiles shortly after the turn of the 20th century. Winning several Glidden Tours in a row solidified the company's reputation for engineering excellence.

Years later, including a merger and subsequent divorce with Studebaker, all was not well at Pierce-Arrow. Unlike Cadillac and Packard who elected to add lower-priced models to their lines in order to combat the effects of the Great Depression, Pierce-Arrow refused to compromise on its luxury product. The company struggled for just a few more years unfortunately closing its doors in 1938.

There were approximately 25 LeBaron bodies of various open and closed configurations ordered by Pierce-Arrow in all. They were adapted and mounted to their respective chassis from 1931 to 1933 as required, with one of them utilized in 1934. It is believed that 13 known survivors of the group are in existence today. Only one Convertible Victoria is known to exist, and it may have been the sole example originally produced.

This Pierce-Arrow Convertible Victoria is built on the long wheelbase Model 41 chassis. This car was displayed at the New York Auto Show in 1931 at the opening of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The Model 41 was the grandest model built by Pierce-Arrow that year, and very few remain today. It was photographed at the time by Margaret Bourke White, who produced a photo journal for Pierce-Arrow. She was the first woman photographer hired by a major automotive manufacturer.

Allen Bittner of PA sold the car in 1966 to Edmund Gibs, of Wausheka, Wisconsin. In 1969, Dr. Brunemeier of Reading, California acquired the Pierce. At the time the car was powered by a Model 43 engine. Dr. Brunemeir retained the car until 1984 when Joseph Gazza of Huntington, New York purchased it. In 2001, Tom Williams of Los Altos, California purchased it, later selling it to the present owners.

The car was treated to a restoration and shown at the 2008 edition of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it earned Best in Class honors. At the Pierce-Arrow Society National Meet the following year, held in Temecula, California, it was awarded the Bernard J.Weis Award for the Most Authentic Restoration, which is the top national-level award available from the Pierce-Arrow Society. At the 2012 Concours d'Elegance of the Eastern United States, it was awarded Best in Class and Best in Show.

In 2012, this car was offered for sale by RM Auctions at their Monterey, CA sale. The car was estimated to sell for $425,000 - $525,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $385,000 inclusive of the buyer's premium.