1914 Pierce-Arrow Model 48

Touring

Pierce-Arrows were built in Buffalo, NY, from 1901 through 1938, and were a very prestigious car in their day. The company produced the Pierce motorcycle prior to building automobiles. This example has a six-cylinder engine, producing 48.6 horsepower, is a strong runner, and is very easy to drive on the highway.

By 1915, Pierce had established itself as one of America's best automakers. The 1915 Pierce line consisted of 13 body styles with the 5-Passenger Touring model being their most popular.

Touring

'One of the 'Three P's' in America's Automotive History'

The famous 'Three P's' in America's automotive history represented the Peerless, Packard, and Pierce Arrow Companies. All three of these companies were premiere, luxury automobile companies and were known for quality, reliability, and performance. Automobiles that were built by the 'Three P's' were expensive with many models selling for more than ten times the price of a Model T Ford.

Pierce Arrow began building one-cylinder automobiles in 1901 and in 1907 introduced their first six-cylinder automobile. The Pierce Arrow designed, T-head, six-cylinder engine would become a Pierce Arrow trademark and would be used until 1928.

Pierce-Arrows were also known for the extensive use of aluminum throughout the vehicle and most Pierce Arrows had bodies that were cast of aluminum.

Another Pierce Arrow trademark was front fenders that were designed to incorporate headlamps. The fender-mounted lamps were first introduced in 1913 and continued to be a Pierce Arrow trademark until the Buffalo, New York company's demise in 1938.

The Pierce-Arrow Model 48 continued the company's reputation for luxury and innovation. On December 12, 1912, the company applied for a patent that concerned headlights mounted on the crown of the fenders to allow for improved lighting. The grant was granted on February 24th of 1914 and was first seen as a Model 48-B2. The car also included electric side lights integrated into the cowl.

The average price for a seven-passenger Tourer would set the buyer back nearly $5000. The cars were powered by a six-cylinder, 525 cubic-inch engine which was capable of producing 48 horsepower. The car was controlled by a four-speed sliding gear transmission and had rear-wheel brakes. The suspension was comprised of a semi-floating rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs.

Two extra folding seats came standard on the Model 48. An electric generator and starter, electric Klaxon horn, gas gauge, autometer, speedometer, rear footrest, rail blanket, electric lights, dual side-mounted spares, and a full set of tools were also standard.

by Dan Vaughan

Touring

Peerless, Packard, and Pierce-Arrow were the famous 'Three Ps' in America's automotive history; they were the premiere automobile manufacturers of their day, each known for quality, reliability, and performance. They were all expensive and many models sold for more than ten times the price of a Model T Ford. Pierce-Arrow began building one-cylinder automobiles in 1901, and in 1907 it introduced its first six-cylinder motor car. The Pierce-Arrow-designed, T-head, 6-cylinder engine became a Pierce-Arrow trademark and was used up until 1928. Pierce-Arrows were also known for its cast aluminum bodies and its trademark front fenders that were designed to incorporate fender-mounted headlamps, which were first introduced in 1913 and continued to be used until the company's demise in 1938.

This car, with its polished brass trim, was originally bought by a Philadelphia doctor before it was acquired by Bill Harrah. Restored by its current owners in 1987, the car has traveled all over the world on many tours and rallies. On a recent road trip in 2019, it traveled from Salinas, CA to Yosemite National Park.

A win on Sunday meant strong sales on Monday. This was a motto many manufacturers believed in and thus, many automakers actively raced their cars to promote its capabilities. Pierce-Arrow did the same; to prove the car's durability and reliability, the mighty Pierce-Arrow was entered in the famed Glidden Tours. From 1905 through 1909, it won all five events and, except for one outing, earned perfect scores in all of them. The company handled all aspects of construction, including the coachwork, for their vehicles. This was highly unusual for the time, but Pierce-Arrow wanted to ensure high quality and maintain high standards on all facets of construction and assembly. They worked closely with their Buffalo, New York neighbor Aluminum Company of America to perfect casting techniques that produced cast-aluminum body panels as thin as 1/8-inch. This made them lightweight yet very strong.

Pierce-Arrow established its own Art Department, long before GM recruited Harley Earl to create their 'Art and Colour Department.' Herbert Dawley designed the bodies for the Pierce-Arrow automobiles and worked closely with the clientele to ensure proper colors, materials, and accessories were fitted to the vehicles.

Another venue the company explored for promoting its business was 'image.' They sought the business of prominent figures, including the White House where ever presidents from William Howard Taft through Franklin Delano Roosevelt rode in a Pierce-Arrow. Many famous movie stars of the time preferred the Pierce-Arrow, such as Mary Pickford, Tom Mix, and Gloria Swanson. This publicity generated a wealth of business for the company and its reputation continued to soar.

In 1906, Pierce-Arrow constructed an integrated factory in Buffalo that covered 1.5 million square feet on the site of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition.

In 1913, the Pierce-Arrow Company patented the design of 'headlights faired into the tops of the front fenders.' This improved the effectiveness of the headlamps and was first seen on a Model 48-B2.

The Model 48 was available in two versions, the B and D. The D versions were equipped with a Disco acetylene self-starting system.

The Pierce-Arrow Model 48 was powered by a 515 cubic-inch, T-head, inline six-cylinder, side-valve engine that produced 48.6 calculated ALAM horsepower. Its cylinders were cast in three pairs and featured two vertical plugs per cylinder. Half of the plugs were connected to a coil while the other six were connected to a magnet. A switch gave the driver the ability to select either or both. The engine did not have a hand crank; there was an air-starting device that used compressed air stored in a tank to operate a small piston engine geared to the flywheel. Once the engine was started, the driver would reverse the valve, and the air-engine became a pump that recharged the tank.

During the production lifespan of the Model 48B, a total of 825 examples were created, and each carried a price tag that ranged from $4,850 - $6,300 depending on body style and coachwork. There were more examples of the Model 48B produced than their lower-priced companion car, the Model 38C, by 209 units.

The Model 48 rested on a platform that had a wheelbase that measured nearly 12 feet. Braking was a mechanical system that took some force to operate. Wooden artillery-style wheels were at all four corners and wooden running boards were on either side of the car. The instrumentation inside was rather bare. The two more important gauges were the mile-o-meter and the drum-action Warner speedometer.

The most popular body style for the Model 48 was the Tourer which had a canvas top and had seating for around 7 individuals.

The Model 48 was a very stately and impressive car that had an awe-inspiring presence and a powerplant capable of carrying the load. These were mechanical masterpieces and truly exceptional examples of the quality and caliber the Pierce-Arrow Company was capable of producing.

by Dan Vaughan