1912 Pierce-Arrow

edited by David Barth, 30 January 2009.
Courtesy The Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Photos were taken in January 2009.

More than any other American automobile, the Pierce-Arrow represented wealth, style, and prestige. Even so, the demand for these expensive cars always exceeded the supply. By December 1909, the company had sold its entire output for 1910 and was tooling for the 1911 line. Innovative as well, Pierce-Arrow developed a process for casting aluminum body panels and was one of the first auto manufacturers to use this metal extensively in engine construction. During the 1910's and 1920's, Pierce-Arrow became on of the famed "Three P's" of luxury, along with Packard and Cleveland-based Peerless.

This Model 36 runabout has a 'dickey' or 'mother-in-law' seat to the rear. The trademark hexagon-shaped side and tail lamps were desgined by Robert H. Dawley, who was responsible for much of the Pierce-Arrow's opulence and grace. In 1913, the company would introduce its most distinctive styling feature, the "frog's eye" headlights built into the car's front fender. Examples of this style are seen in Crawford's 1929 and 1930 Pierce-Arrows. Pierce-Arrow continued production until 1938, when the company went out of business, a victim of the Great Depression and mismanagement.

In 1912, Pierce-Arrow produced 1,453 vehicles for its very select audience. This runabout cost $4,000 when new, and in 1912, the average yearly salary was $592. this was most definitely not a car for the masses, unlike Henry Ford's Model T, which could be had for $690 in 1912.

Model: 36
Body Style: Runabout
Original Factory Price: $4,000
Brake Horsepower: 36
Displacement: 386.4 cubic inches
Bore: 4 inches
Stroke: 5.325 inches
Cylinders: 6, in-line
Wheelbase: 119 inches
Manufacturer: Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company
Location: Buffalo, New York, USA

Donor: Mr. William A. Baker, 1967