1913 Pierce-Arrow Model 38-C

Runabout
Chassis number: 33562
Engine number: 33562

George N. Pierce was a bicycle manufacturer. It began when he was a partner at Heintz, Pierce, and Munschauer, a Buffalo, New York, company that made bird cages. The firm later branched out into ice boxes and bath tubes. In 1872, Pierce bought out his partners, then renamed the company for himself and embarked on pedal-powered transportation. When interest began to grow in self-propelled vehicles, he built a steam car in 1900. That November, a gasoline-powered car was operating. The following year, the manufacture of a de Dion-engined 'Motorette' began.

In 1904, the four-cylinder Great Arrow was introduced. Pierce's son Percy drove one in the inaugural 1905 Glidden Tour, winning the reliability contest. Pierce vehicles would go on to win the next four Glidden Trophy events. The name 'Pierce' and 'Arrow' became so linked that the company was renamed Pierce-Arrow in 1909.

In 1907, the company introduced its first six-cylinder Pierce, the Model 65-Q. The engine had a T-head configuration, just like the fours that preceded it. The six displaced 648 cubic inches and offered suitable power to carry the large 135-inch wheelbase Pierce chassis. The last Pierce fours were built in 1909. For 1910, there were three sixes, of 36-, 48- and 66-rated horsepower. In 1913, a new 38-horsepower car arrived and would remain in production for six years.

This particular Pierce-Arrow is one of seven hundred fifty-first series 38s, built near the close of 1912. The car was delivered new to the Schick Foundry in Belmont, California, for use by the Schick family.

This 1913 Pierce-Arrow Model 38 Roadster was originally a four-door open Touring Model 38 C. It is powered by a six-cylinder Pierce engine developing 38 horsepower. The car rides on a 132-inch wheelbase, weighs 4200 pounds, and was priced at $4,800. A total of 750 cars were produced.

It remained in the same family and was re-bodied to a Roadster in 1952. Essentially, the rear seat was replaced with a roadster gas tank and a twin concealed seat as was found in the original Roadster. It has a miniature four-cylinder engine and four forward gears. It came equipped with an air starter and it contains a compressed air tank under the right side. Cadillac came out with an electric starter in 1913 and most newer Pierces converted to electric. The current owners are the second owners of this Pierce.

Runabout

Pierce-Arrow had several new features in 1913, most notably the introduction of standard nickel trim in place of brass and an air starter system in which compressed air was pumped into the cylinders to move the pistons and turn the engine.

This Runabout was sold new in San Francisco to a wealthy Hillsborough lumber baron who had the spare tire mounted on the rear deck so the car could carry more sporting equipment on the running boards. This Runabout, seen in its original colors, has never left bay Area ownership; it has had just three owners in its history.

The six-cylinder Pierce-Arrow Model 38 was introduced in 1913 and would remain in production for a number of years accounting for many of the vehicles produced by Pierce-Arrow. The entire range of Pierce-Arrows were built with craftsmanship and a high level of quality. Their use and experimentation with aluminum throughout the years led to successful implementation resulting in lightweight bodies that were rigid and lacked vibration, buckling, or warping with excessive use or in extreme temperatures. The construction with the aluminum was a time consuming and expensive process and accounted for part of the hefty price tag of the vehicle.

In 1919, the Seven-Passenger Touring Model had a base price of $6,500 which was well above the industry average and one of the more expensive vehicles offered for sale. The Seven Passenger Suburban cost $5,000. For that price, the buyer received a car that rested on a wheelbase that measured 142-inches and was powered by a six-cylinder engine that had dual-valve and dual ignition and displaced 414 cubic-inches. The result was 38 horsepower which was sent through the four-speed manual transmission to the rear wheels, which were also responsible for the mechanical braking. The Seven Passenger Touring Model had a wheelbase of 134 inches.

by Dan Vaughan