1934 Pierce Arrow Enclosed Drive Limousine
edited by David Barth, 10 January 2009.
Courtesy The Forney Museum of Transportation at 4303 Brighton Blvd., Denver,
Colorado. Photos were taken in January 2009.
This most prestigious and fine automobile descended from a company that produced bird cages, iceboxes, and other
household items. The company was Heintz, Pierce, and Munschauer, founded in Buffalo, New York in 1865. Pierce bought
controlling interest in the company and reorganized it as the George N. Pierce Company in 1872.
In early 1900, the board of directors and George Pierce decided that they should design both steam and gasoline
automobiles. The experimental steam car was a failure, but the gasoline-powered car went into production.
The first Arrow model was built in 1904. The name "Arrow" became so well identified with the Pierce company that the
directors changed the corporate name to Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company in 1909. One year later, George N. Pierce died
of a heart ailment in Buffalo.
After years of being an independent car manufacturer, Pierce Arrow merged with Studebaker. To some, it seemed an end of
the Pierce-Arrow car.
In 1934 ultra-fashionable fastback styling and dual fenders were incorporated into all Pierce models.
On Friday, May 13, 1938, the Pierce-Arrow Company was sold at auction. The final car was assembled, built from
purchased parts by chief engineer Karl Wise.
The Pierce-Arrow Company built magnificent luxury cars, and this seven-passenger limousine is a fine example of the
marque. It has a 12-cylinder engine Shah Rica Kahn of Persia paid $25,000 for one. All presidents from Taft to
Roosevelt used Pierces.
