1934 Pierce-Arrow 1240A Twelve

Pierce-Arrow, one of the fabled 'three-Ps' of United States automotive royalty, was an outgrowth of the former George N. Pierce Company of Buffalo, New York, a one-time bicycle manufacturer and, earlier, birdcage maker. By the mid-1910s, the company had achieved a reputation and position of prominence, with the public perception driven by Pierce advertisements directed solely at the social elite and the number of examples that occupied space within the White House stable. In fact, the first official cars of the White House were two Pierce-Arrows ordered by U.S. President William Howard Taft in 1909.

Along with opulent and elegant bodies, the engines were equally impressive, displacing 7.4-liters before growing to 11.7-liters, and further increased to 13.5-liter, at the time making it by far the largest Otto engine offered in any production automobile in the world. By the close of the 1910s, Pierce-Arrow adopted a four-valve per cylinder T-head inline-six engine (Dual Valve Six) with three spark plugs per cylinder.

The Pierce-Arrow six-cylinder engine was the first to use hydraulic engine tappets, and their vehicles were pioneers in many areas of technological development, including power braking. They were one of the early manufacturers to experiment with light alloy construction, power steering, and streamlined bodywork. The Herbert M. Dawley pre-WWI designed fender treatment featured a distinctive headlamp-in-fender design that would endure for the remainder of Pierce-Arrow's existence. (Dawley would design nearly every Pierce model until 1938).

During the 1920s, Pierce-Arrow's large engines were being outclassed by a new era of lighter, more efficient engines and as the automotive industry adopted more modern production techniques, Pierce-Arrow faced great pressure. The low production and labor-intensive techniques prohibited the company to compete against modern construction methods. Pierce-Arrow responded with the introduction of the Model 80, a less complex and smaller companion model to the Dual Valve Six model line. Unfortunately, it did not provide the necessary financial assistance, resulting in an alliance with the cash-rich Studebaker Company. Though it was called a 'merger', the resulting deal was actually more of an acquisition of Pierce-Arrow by Studebaker. Pierce-Arrow gained financial stability, a larger dealer network, and resources to develop a new eight-cylinder engine.

A new engine with an L-head design emerged, replacing the large T-head Six. Although it had two extra cylinders, it weighed approximately one hundred pounds less than its predecessor and delivered 25 percent more power from a 12 percent smaller displacement. The new Model 133, named for its wheelbase, was offered in no fewer than twelve body styles. The public agreed and approximately 8,000 examples were sold in 1929.

While Pierce-Arrow entered the 1930s with strong sales, a new partnership, a new engine, and technology, the industry was accelerating at a blistering pace. The Great Depression hindered sales, but the diminished client base increased competition among luxury brands. The mighty Duesenberg became a paragon due to its unmatched horsepower rating and price tag. Cadillac introduced a sixteen-cylinder model, the most in the industry, that was soon followed by another sixteen-cylinder model by Marmon. Cadillac, Packard, Lincoln, and other marques introduced new twelve-cylinder models and modern coachwork. Pierce-Arrow responded in November of 1931 with a twelve-cylinder engine designed by chief engineer Karl Wise. The engine was used by Ab Jenkins to claim (albeit briefly) 14 official international records.

By 1934, the company offered three models powered by the eight-cylinder resting on wheelbase sizes of 136-, 139-, and 144-inches. The twelve-cylinder engine was used to power the 139-inch Model 1240A, the 144-inch Model 1250A, and the 147-inch Model 1248A. Body styles on the 1240A included a roadster, brougham, coupe, and club sedan with prices that ranged from $3,200 to $3,900. The Model 1250A was priced from $3,300 to $3,800 with body styles that included a Silver Arrow, Enclose Drive limousine, and a sedan. The long-wheelbase Model 1248A sedan had a base price of $4,300 and the Enclose Drive Limousine listed for $4,500. The 462 cubic-inch L-head twelve-cylinder engine was fitted with a two-barrel Stromberg carburetor and offered 175 horsepower. It was backed by a three-speed manual transmission and braking was handled by vacuum-assisted four-wheel mechanical drums. The suspension was comprised of semi-elliptical leaf springs in the front and rear and a live rear axle.

Despite the company's valiant efforts, just 2,152 vehicles were sold in 1933, down from 2,692 the prior year. Just 1,740 were produced in 1934 and 875 a year later. Management remained vigilant and hopeful that the economic turnaround was forthcoming. They were the only luxury brand that did not field a lower-price car to stimulate cash flow. Other companies, such as Lincoln with Ford and Cadillac with General Motors, had resources that allowed them to weather the Depression. Lacking funds for development, the Pierce-Arrow Company declared insolvency in 1938 and closed its doors. The company's remaining assets were sold at auction on May 13th of 1938.

by Dan Vaughan

Silver Arrow Sedan

Pierce-Arrow was forced to enter the 'cylinder wars' as its competitors at Cadillac, Packard, Lincoln, Marmon, and others had done. The Buffalo, New York company joined the fray with a clean-sheet 452 cubic-inch, 150 horsepower Twelve design in 1932; 175 horsepower in 1933. The new model set no less than 79 new speed records with famed racer Ab Jenkins at the wheel. Competition was fierce among luxury marques with manufacturers fighting for a piece of a shrinking market. Roy Faulkner, Pierce Arrow's new sales manager, hired designer Phil Wright to come up with something 'new and dramatic.' That he did. Introduced at the New York and Chicago Auto Shows in 1933, the custom-made Silver Arrow show car was the star of the show. However, at $10,000 a copy, only five were built. The name remained, though, for 1934, as part of the regular-production line-up, which was available in both the Eight and Salon Twelve series.

This 1934 production Silver Arrow has benefitted from a comprehensive professional restoration and is equipped with a rare Pierce-Arrow radio, dual side-mount spares with metal covers, chrome wheel covers, and Trippe lights. The Pierce-Arrow hood ornament is considered one of the most iconic of the period and is named Tireur d'Arc, which in French means 'drawer of the bow,' the poetic variation of 'archer.' The first Pierce-Arrow archer was slender, partly clothed, and helmeted, but later versions show him to be more muscular, naked, and rid of the helmet. A fellow sweeping the floor of Pierce-Arrow factory agreed to be the model, using his broom for the bow when he posed.

Unfortunately, Pierce-Arrow was unable to stop the sales slide of the past few years and only 287 Silver Arrows were built.

Convertible Coupe
Chassis number: 3110110
Engine number: 400219

This Pierce-Arrow Twelve Convertible Coupe Roadster was purchased in 1960 by the Harrah Automobile Collection of Sparks, Nevada, from John E. Kallstrom, of Portland, Oregon. At the time, the car had recorded 24,416 miles, which are believed to be original. Mr. Kallstrom had the car repainted and re-trimmed, and it received a new top, but it was otherwise unrestored.

The car has a newer serial number plate but it has been verified to be the car's correct original number. It also has its original engine and body.

In 1981, the car was sold by Harrahs to Henry Candler, of Denver, Colorado, later passing it to John C. May of High Point, North Carolina in 1989 and then to Leon Garoyan, of Davis, California. Mr. Garoyan began Pierce's professional, body-off restoration in 1995. Upon completion, the car was painted Cream and Maroon with the correct red leather upholstery. After the restoration was finished, it was shown by Mr. Garoyan at the Pierce-Arrow Society's National Meet in San Diego in 1996. It was later acquired by Fred Smith and then by the Kughn Collection. It received its AACA Senior First Prize at Hershey in 2007 and its CCCA Senior badge (1979S) at the Michigan Grand Classic in 2008. It earned a 1st in Class at the PAS National Meet in 2008 and was judged Best in Class at the 2008 Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles.

by Dan Vaughan

Coupe
Chassis number: 3530078

Pierce-Arrow built the Silver Arrow show car for the Century of Progress Exhibition in Chicago in 1933. Superbly designed and engineered, a total of five examples were built. Production began in 1934 for just two years, in a coupe version, both 8- and 12-cylinder versions, and a version with a streamlined rear end reminiscent of the original Silver Arrow prototype. These motorcars are celebrated for their avant-garde styling, with a unique camouflaged built-in luggage truck - pioneering and highly popular design features.

This 12-cylinder example was purchased by the current owner's grandfather, Bob Atwell, in the late 1960s. It was later donated to the Pate Museum in Fort Worth, and came home to Blake Atwell half a century later.

Pierce-Arrows were stately vehicles that commanded admiration and respect and had a price tag to match. The individuals who bought the most elite Pierce-Arrows were individuals that were high on the social ladder and cost was not an issue. The Pierce-Arrow catered to every demand and request, even keeping special colors on hand for important families and only using those colors for those vehicles and non-others. Most of the vehicle was custom, including the carpets, luggage, trunks, and seats. The Pierce-Arrows were more than just a custom and exclusive automobile, they were also known for their quality, reliability, performance, and sophistication.

The slow demise of the Pierce-Arrow Company began when other marques moved away from custom-built automobiles to production lines. The mass-produced vehicles raised the bar on quality and dependability. Though they could not guarantee exclusivity, they could guarantee a better product at a better price. When Cadillac introduced its 16-cylinder engine in 1929, Pierce-Arrow knew it had to improve its 12-cylinder engine to stay competitive. The Twelve was introduced in 1932 and came equipped with a 452 cubic-inch engine capable of producing 150 horsepower, just slightly below the output of the V16. By 1933, Pierce-Arrow had raised the output of their engine to 175 and the public approved, buying many examples and setting new sales records for Pierce.

1932 was a great year for the Pierce-Arrow Twelve. Ab Jenkins drove a 33,000-mile prototype to the salt flats of Bonneville. he set several records and then drove 2000 miles back to Buffalo. He returned the following year and set nearly 80 new records.

Unfortunately, the Great Depression was taking its toll on the company. Negotiations to merge with Auburn and Reo failed and Pierce-Arrow entered into bankruptcy. Buffalo business rescued the failing company, raised money, and cut the work staff by half. Sales improved for a short while but not enough to sustain the company. In 1937 the company closed its doors forever.

by Dan Vaughan