1913 Pierce-Arrow Model 48

The start of the George N Pierce company of Buffalo NY was a typical story for the automobile trade.  The business manufactured a whole host of products from bird cages to bicycles.  In 1901 they stuck their proverbial toe in the manufacture of autos with a rather light-weight “motorette”.  While not particularly successful, they “upped” their game to a 2-cylinder car and then, in 1904, they went all out with a quality 4-cylinder they called the “Great Arrow”.  This was a car of solid reputation which won the prestigious Glidden Trophy for highest quality car of 1905.  Pierce continued to win this award for 4 more years which put the world on notice that a Pierce “Arrow” was the top of the line in automobiles in America. In 1907 they added a 6-cylinder model and in 1909 they reorganized the company as “Pierce Arrow”.  In 1909 they fixated on a 6-cylinder engine only and for several years they stuck to that format.  There were three basic chassis of fairly healthy, really big and ridiculously big sizes.  Every vehicle was made to extremely high standards as Pierce was recognized as the top dog in the luxury car world.  There has been a Pierce Arrow in the White House for every year from 1909 until 1937 as an example of that prestige.

Pierce began in 1907 building their bodies using cast aluminum and continued this practice into the 1920s.  This was an expensive solution to the harsh roads of the time but it allowed Pierce to have some of the most elegant lines on their cars.

A Pierce Arrow of the time was unusually easy to drive for its size and was very popular with chauffeurs who’s input to their employers was valued.  (A significant side-note in the marketing department)

In 1913 Pierce experimented with the more common practice of constructing the body using a wood frame work with sheet metal exterior.  While only done for one year, the example you see here is one of those cars.

This car is the model 48 which was technically the middle model of that year.  It was the accepted standard of the ultimate luxury of the time.  The company did produce the larger Model 66 which was basically a fire truck chassis with an oversized passenger car body.  It appealed to the Uber-wealthy who had to have a better than everybody else car and where price was no object.  Few were built annually.

Pierce clung too long to old accepted practices and was slow to adapt to the industry changes taking place.  Other rivals overtook Pierce as top dog and Pierce sales declined steadily until the end in 1938.