1919 Pierce-Arrow Series 51

The George N. Pierce Co. of Buffalo, New York was a maker of birdcages and other household goods prior to establishing itself as a manufacturer of highly regarded automobiles. Their vehicles were sophisticated and well-engineered with robust construction and potent powerplants. The steep price tag that these vehicles commanded guaranteed their exclusivity. More than just elegant luxury automobiles, the four-cylinder Great Arrow proved its performance capabilities by winning the demanding Glidden Tour in 1905, and the next four years as well.

Pierce-Arrow introduced its first six-cylinder car in 1907 powered by a large 618.5 cubic-inch inline-six installed in a 135-inch wheelbase chassis. The complete package, including coachwork, often tipped the scales at over two tons. Prices ranged from $6,500 to $7,750 which was approximately twice that of a Cadillac, yet despite the high 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 official White House use, establishing a tie that would continue until 1935.

Pierce-Arrow offered three distinct chassis by 1910 and all were equipped with six-cylinder engines. The smallest example was the Model 36 (later called the Model 38) which came with a 329 cubic-inch straight-six and a wheelbase of 129 inches. On the other end of the spectrum was the Model 66 flaunting an 824.7 cubic-inch powerplant with a 147.5-inch wheelbase. The Model 48, named for its fiscal horsepower rating, had a 524 cubic-inch T-head inline-six. The engine was composed of three blocks of two-cylinder each with each block cast integral with its head. There were two spark plugs per cylinder, with two independent distributors for dual ignition. The oil was sent to all crankshaft and connecting rod bearings under pressure. The carburetor was manufactured by Pierce-Arrow and featured automatic mixture adjustment. The engines were backed by a four-speed manual transmission with a leather-faced cone clutch. Two-wheel external contracting brakes in the rear provided the stopping power and were operated by a lever, while an internal expanding brake was operated by the foot pedal. The frame was conventional with pressed-steel side members and cross-bracing. The front axle was of drop-forged steel and suspended by semi-elliptic leaf springs. In the back was a semi-floating axle with three-quarter elliptic springs.

Pierce-Arrow automobiles of this era used right-hand-drive configuration and the company was one of the last United States automakers to switch to left-hand drive. The headlamps were relocated to the fenders in 1913, though Pierce-Arrow gave customers the option of conventional headlamps. With the introduction of the Series 51, the parking lamps were removed from the cowl and incorporated into the headlamps.

by Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2021