1911 Pierce-Arrow Model 66A

The Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company of Buffalo, New York produced automobiles from 1901 to 1938. The company was established in 1865 as Heinz, Pierce, and Munschauer. It produced household items such as birdcages. In 1872, George Norman Pierce bought out the other two principals of the company, changed the name to the George N. Pierce Company, and in 1896 added bicycles to the product line. In the late 1890s and into 1900, the company attempted to build a steam-powered car under license from Overman. This attempt failed but it did have success in 1901 with its first single-cylinder, two-speed Motorette. In 1903, a two-cylinder car was added to the lineup and dubbed the Arrow. Larger and more luxurious cars followed, along with the Great Arrow.

In 1910 Pierce-Arrow introduced the Model 66 and it would remain in production through 1918. Power was from an 825 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine making it one of the largest engines offered in a passenger car. The 1910 Model 66 had a wheelbase size of 113.5 inches for the Runabout. The four other body styles rested on a 140-inch platform. For 1911, a single 140-inch wheelbase was offered with body styles including a 5- or 7-passenger tourer, a landaulet, runabout, miniature Tonneau, and a suburban.

The Model 66 received its name from its rated output of the engine which was calculated from the cylinder number and its bore. By 1918, the engine had been modified with four valves per cylinder and a new cylinder head resulting in an increase in horsepower. Other refinements included four-wheel brakes. Just four prototype examples with the 'dual-valve 66' engine were built and were reportedly sent to dealers as demonstrators. Only one example has survived.

by Dan Vaughan

Runabout
Engine number: 66750

The Pierce-Arrow 66 was the company's largest model and was among the largest American cars ever produced. The T-head six-cylinder engine displaced 824.7 cubic inches and was among the largest engines ever placed into an American production car. They had large 27-inch wheels with 37-inch tires. Produced from 1910 through 1918, it is estimated that a mere 14 examples remain in existence.

This particular example was restored by Don C. Boulton. The project began with a correct Model 66 frame and 1913 Model 66 engine which was both acquired in California. The 66-horsepower car with serial number 66750 was originally registered to a George Needham of Brooklyn, NY. The body was produced to Mr. Boulton's specifications by a craftsman in Northern California, using the correct Pierce method of cast aluminum panels. Much of the restoration was completed by the Pierce specialist Allan Schmidt of Horseless Carriage Restoration in Escondido, California. Mr. Schmidt performed the work between 2001 and 2002. For safety and ease of use, the car was given disc brakes on the rear axle, and a Gearvender overdrive was fitted.

This Runabout is finished in burgundy with gold striping and a black top with burgundy lining. It has the correct belly pans, a folding windshield, and a set of Rushmore headlamps and Solar cowl lamps, converted to electric operation along with the addition of a starter motor. There is an electric horn, Warner Auto-Meter combination odometer/speedometer, and Chelsea 8-day clock, overseen by an instrument light.

by Dan Vaughan

Runabout
Engine number: A4-657

The Model 66 was Pierce-Arrow's largest model and among the largest ever produced in America. Power was from a T-head 6-cylinder unit displacing 824.7 cubic inches, the largest engine ever installed in an American production car. It rode on 27-inch wheels wrapped in 37-inch tires.

This particular example is a two-passenger runabout, and considering its minimalistic coachwork for its massive engine, would have made it among the fastest on the roads during that era. The current owner acquired it from Bruce Zillner in 2008, as a project. A full restoration soon followed. The engine, a 66-A-4 passenger car unit and all related components are either original Pierce 66 or 48 parts, with the exception of an upgraded Schebler carburetor and a 12-volt electrical system with an alternator affixed underneath the original Westinghouse starter. The work included rebuilding the engine, with a bored cylinder, new forged pistons, and a modern driveshaft. All components were properly restored, a 2.5:1 differential gear set was installed, and the transmission was fitted with all new gears. The new, correct 66-specification chassis, made by Michael Paul, was outfitted with correct Hartford friction shock absorbers and new artillery wheels, shod in 37-inch tires. Upgrades include hydraulic brakes to ensure safe drivability on modern roads.

The bodywork was created using the correct Pierce cast aluminum construction of the period, in a two-seater runabout style, finished in grey and burgundy, with burgundy leather bucket seats and a charcoal top. Accessories include the Rushmore headlamps, Pierce Solar 935C side lamps, a Dragon 812 bulb horn, Warner Auto-Meter combination speedometer and clock, and a correct taillight and license plate illuminator, which has been wired to function as a brake light for tours.

After the restoration, the car was used on several tours including two that covered over 400 miles each.

by Dan Vaughan

The Pierce-Arrow Model 66 was one of the pinnacles of American design and craftsmanship of the early Twentieth century. Just like all Pierce Arrows since 1910, they were powered by a six-cylinder engine. Originally they had a bore of 5.25 inches and a stroke of 5.5 inches giving it 714 cubic inches of displacement. By 1913 it had grown to have a bore of 5 inches and a stroke of 7 inches. The engine displaced 825 cubic inches and was double the size of many of its competitors. At 1600 RPM's, the engine was capable of producing 60 horsepower. This means the Type 66 was not only an elegant automobile, but it was also a very fast machine. It is believed that the Type 66 had the largest displacement engine ever to power a production automobile. It had 44 more cubic inches than the Bugatti Type 41 Royale. With an engine of this magnitude, it consumed lots of fuel. The miles-per-gallon was around 8.5, meaning the 36-gallon fuel tank was good for nearly 300 miles. This often posed problems for the drivers, as gas stations were not always readily available.

Pierce-Arrow placed this mammoth engine in a chassis that measured 147.5 inches. It was a suitable platform for many coachbuilders to work their trade. Pierce-Arrow was among the first to use cast aluminum panels in their bodywork, reducing the overall weight of the vehicle while maintaining a high degree of structural rigidity and strength.

In 1914 an electric starter was added. A pressurized fuel delivery system using an engine-operated air pump to pressurize the tank appeared in 1915.

In 1916 Pierce-Arrow introduced their final iteration of the Model 66, the Series 4. This would remain in production until 1918.

From 1910 through 1918, there were 1250 examples of the Model 66 produced. It is believed that around fourteen have survived in modern times and only seven are the Model 66 A-4 series.

by Dan Vaughan