1928 Pierce-Arrow Model 81

From the company's inception as an automobile manufacturer in 1901, Pierce-Arrow (originally known as Pierce, adopting the Pierce-Arrow name in 1904) fostered a reputation for excellence, elegance, and a Paragon of the luxury car segment. Before gasoline-driven automobile production in 1901, the Buffalo, New York-based company built birdcages, ice boxes, and bicycles. In 1908 the firm added Motor Car Company to the Pierce-Arrow name and focused its complete attention exclusively on the production of luxury cars, pioneering many technological developments, including servo-assisted braking and hydraulic tappets. As early as 1909, the White House ordered two Pierce-Arrow vehicles for state occasions. From then onward Pierce-Arrow would be synonymous with the ultimate in opulence, ranking alongside Rolls-Royce, Packard, and Cadillac.

As one of the 'Three Ps,' Pierce-Arrow joined Peerless and Packard as the highest-quality American cars of the period. Despite their storied status, Pierce-Arrow faced great pressure from other manufacturers during the 1920s, which were adopting more modern production techniques, which rewarded them with reduced overall costs. Pierce-Arrow clung to its labor-intensive production techniques which limited production volume and the company's ability to compete in the rapidly evolving automotive marketplace. Additionally, While other manufacturers embraced modern designs, Pierce-Arrow remained faithful to its traditional styling, apart from its in-fender, streamlined headlights, and handicapped by its range of 6-cylinder engines in an increasingly multi-cylinder marketplace. As pressure mounted, Pierce-Arrow responded in 1924 with the introduction of the Model 80, a less complex and smaller model to its Dual Valve Six model line. As the years progressed, the Model 80 was continuously improved, gaining an advanced, four-wheel vacuum-powered brake system by 1927. For 1928, the changes were minimal, albeit the Model 80 was now called the Model 80, and further distinguished by smaller headlamps. All 1928 Pierce-Arrows wore a new emblem, reputedly the Pierce family crest, on the radiator. Mrs. Percy Pierce later pointed out that it was not the actual crest of the George N. Pierce family.

A new range of straight-eight models was introduced at the close of the 1920s, and sales doubled in 1929. A V12 model arrived in November of 1931, as Cadillac and Marmon introduced even larger sixteen-cylinder models, and in the wake of the post-Wall Street crash, Pierce-Arrow's efforts were in vain. The luxury car segment had dwindled, and the pool of eligible buyers had nearly disappeared. Pierce-Arrow, along with most other automobile manufacturers, struggled throughout the 1930s, with Pierce-Arrow eventually folding in 1938.

Pierce-Arrow produced nearly 5,000 examples of the Series 81 in 1928. Over a dozen body styles were offered to customers on the Model 81, with prices that began at $2,900 for the four-passenger runabout and rose to $3,550 for the Enclosed Drive seven-passenger Limousine. The Club Sedan Landau, seven-passenger sedan, and four-passenger DelUxe coupe were all priced at $3,450. The five-passenger sedan, Sport Sedan Landau, and four-passenger coupe listed at $3,3350. The five-passenger club sedan was $3,300, and the two-passenger coupe and five-passenger brougham were $3,250. The four-passenger tourer was $3,100 and the four-passenger roadster was $3,450.

The 1928 Model 81 rested on a 130-inch wheelbase platform, eight inches smaller than the Model 36. Both the Model 36 and the Model 81 were powered by six-cylinder engines, with the former producing 100 horsepower while the latter had 75 horsepower. The 288 cubic-inch L-head inline-6 cylinder engine powering the Model 81 breathed through a single Updraft Stromberg carburetor and was backed by a three-speed manual transmission. Four-wheel vacuum-powered brakes provided the stopping power. The suspension was comprised of parallel semi-elliptical leaf springs at the front and rear with a solid front and rear axle.

1928 was the final year for the straight-6 engine, as Pierce-Arrow models for 1929 were equipped with inline-8 with 125 horsepower.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2022