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 Dan Vaughan

Runabout

Pierce-Arrow motorcars were introduced in 1901 and by the time this car was built, the company had achieved what would be a lasting reputation as a manufacturer of top-of-the-line motorcars. President Woodrow Wilson maintained a Pierce-Arrow as his official White House car.

This runabout body style was built on a long 142-inch wheelbase chassis. It is powered by a Dual Valve Six motor that had been introduced in October 1918. Interestingly, the Pierce-Arrow was a favorite not only of America's moneyed class but of 'rum runners' because of the car's solid mechanical reputation.

Pierce-Arrows were expensive. This car sold for approximately $5,400 new in 1919. Not surprisingly, the production of these cars was low; a total of 2,136 cars were sold by Pierce-Arrow in 1919.

Vestibule Limousine

1n 1909, President William Howard Taft ordered a Pierce-Arrow to be used for State occasions. This was a very considerable honor for a motor car that had been in production for only eight years. Later the Government decided to order yet another very special car and had it prepared to meet President Woodrow Wilson when he returned from the historic Versailles Peace Conference in 1919. The President enjoyed the vehicle so much that when he left office he acquired it for his own use. It was first restored in 1973 and a definitive restoration was undertaken in 1990. The highly personal 'mascot' of Princeton University was replaced by the original Presidential crest at that time.

Tourer
Chassis number: 513156

This Pierce-Arrow Model 51 Four Passenger Sport Touring has bodywork designed by John LiBaire of New York. Mr. LiBaire, who opened the New York Stock Exchange, designed this one-off body for his own Pierce-Arrow Model 66 after it suffered a cowl and engine fire. Mr. LiBaire later sold the body to another Pierce-Arrow owner, who refitted it to this Model 51 (chassis number 513156).

The Pierce-Arrow Model 51 was powered by the new Dual Valve engine that was introduced in 1918. It was a 6-cylinder unit displacing 524 cubic inches and used dual intake and exhaust valves and twin spark plugs in each cylinder fired by dual Delco ignition. The engine was mated to a 4-speed transmission.

This Pierce-Arrow Model 51 is one of just 12 examples that remain in modern times. It has a brown leather interior and a new Black Haartz top.

by Dan Vaughan

Tourer
Chassis number: 514350
Engine number: 514498

Pierce-Arrow introduced their first six-cylinder car in 1907. It had a very large 618.5 cubic-inch inline six which rested on a 135 inch wheelbase and weighed over two tons. These were luxurious and prestigious cars which had price tags that ranged from $6,500 to $7,750 - more than twice the price of a Cadillac. Regardless of its steep 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 the White House, a tradition which would continue until 1935.

By 1910, the Pierce-Arrow catalog offered three distinct chassis, establishing an all-six-cylinder range that would see it through the next decade. The smallest model was the Model 36 (later becoming the Model 38) fitted with a 329 cubic-inch straight-six engine and a 129-inch wheelbase. The largest was the Model 66 with power from an 824.7 cubic-inch engine resting on a 147.5-inch wheelbase platform. Positioned between these two was the Model 48.

The Model 48 was named for its fiscal horsepower rating. The 524 cubic-inch T-head inline-six produced as much as 75 horsepower at its 2,500 RPM redline. It was composed of three blocks of two cylinders each, each block cast integral with its head. They had two independent distributors for dual ignition and two spark plugs per cylinder. The oil was sent to the crankshaft and connecting rod bearings under pressure. Pierce-Arrow designed and manufactured its own carburetors, which featured automatic mixture adjustment.

In 1913, the headlamps moved the fenders, though customers were given the option of conventional headlamps, which few customers selected.

In July of 1918, Pierce-Arrow engineers gave their engine four-valve cylinder heads. This Dual Valve Six made the Model 66 redundant. The Model 38 and 48 continued but were renamed the Series 31 and Series 51, respectively. With the launch of the Series 51, the parking lamps were relocated from the cowl and incorporated into the headlamps.

The chassis was comprised of a conventional frame with pressed-steel side members and cross-bracing. The front axle was drop-forged steel and suspended by semi-elliptic leaf springs. In the rear was a semi-floating axle with three-quarter elliptic springs. Brakes were to the rear wheels only, operated by a lever, and an internal expanding brake operated by the foot pedal. Pierce-Arrow was also one of the last United States automakers to use right-hand drive.

The manual transmission used a leather-faced cone clutch.

This particular example is a Series 51 Four-Passenger Touring Car. It is believed that this is one of two examples of its type remaining. The Pierce-Arrow coachwork is crafted entirely from aluminum castings. Conventional sheet metal was only used for the hood which was fabricated from sheet copper.

This four-passenger tourer was priced at $7,650 when new. Other body styles and options ranged from $6,450 for a bare chassis to $9,450 for the largest enclosed cars.

This tourer was once owned by Pierce-Arrow expert John Mozart. It has been in the long-term ownership of a marque aficionado who has driven it on tours and maintained its mechanical and cosmetic condition. The car wears an older, quality restoration that has held up well over the years.

by Dan Vaughan

Tourer
Chassis number: 514350
Engine number: 514498

This Series 51 Pierce-Arrow Touring car is one of two of its type known to still exist. Built during the 'Golden Era' of PIerce-Arrow, the coachwork is crafted entirely from aluminum castings save for the hood, which was fabricated from sheet copper. The sleek coachwork is enhanced by the low doorline and the lines from the top of the radiator to below the windshield. The Series 51 was expensive in its day, priced at $7,650 for a bare chassis to $9,450 for the largest coach-built cars. This car has the desirable four-valve, 6-cylinder engine configuration that makes the large tourer feel more like a sporty Mercer or Stutz Bearcat. The car was once owned by California collector and Pierce-Arrow expert John Mozart before it passed into the long-term ownership of another Pierce-Arrow collector, Charles Sparrer, who drove it on many tours of the United States. Its current owner acquired the car in 2018.