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 Daniel Vaughan | May 2019