1911 Pierce-Arrow Model 36-UU Touring Car
Chassis no. 12133
Engine no. 32325 (see text)
475ci T-Head Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
40bhp (Rated)
4-Speed Transmission
Front, Semi-Elliptic Leaf Spring, Rear, Three-Quarter Elliptic Leaf Spring
Rear-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes

*Example of famed Pierce-Arrow high quality automobile
*A proven tour car
*Nice older restoration

THE PIERCE-ARROW MOTOR CAR CO.

Pierce-Arrow had cemented its reputation for performance and reliability when the Pierce Great Arrow won all five of the famed Glidden Tours in 1905-1909 while achieving perfect scores in all but one of them.

Both to retain its high standards and to facilitate its continuing innovation and refinement, Pierce-Arrow closely controlled all aspects of construction including coachwork for which most other luxury marques relied upon outside coachbuilders. Instead, Pierce-Arrow worked with its Buffalo, New York neighbor Aluminum Company of America to perfect casting techniques, which produced cast aluminum body panels as thin as 1/8'. The resulting Pierce-Arrow bodies were exceptionally strong, rattle-free and lightweight. Body design also was handled within Pierce-Arrow's Art Department. Created long before GM recruited Harley Earl to create GM's Art & Colour Department, Pierce-Arrow had Herbert Dawley designing bodies for Pierce-Arrow automobiles and working with Pierce's demanding clientele to manage accessories, colors and materials.

Pierce-Arrow actively sought the business of prominent figures, including the White House where every President from William Howard Taft through Franklin Delano Roosevelt rode in the Buffalo company's automobiles. Pierce-Arrows were favored by movie stars like Mary Pickford, Gloria Swanson and Tom Mix. The publicity and recognition of product placement like this was supported by an imaginative advertising campaign.

Being based on the successful business of its founder, George N. Pierce, and having developed an extensive network of dealers for its very successful line of bicycles, Pierce-Arrow enjoyed excellent distribution. Its sales organization reached into every corner of the United States.

Pierce-Arrow's success enabled the company in 1906 to construct a massive integrated factory in Buffalo that covered 1.5 million square feet on the site of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. Unit production from Pierce-Arrow was never high (it took until 1912 before Pierce-Arrow built its 12,000th car) but in quality and materials there was none better and Pierce-Arrows were enthusiastically snapped up by the elite at prices that made a Packard or Peerless seem inexpensive by comparison.

Over the years prior to World War I Pierce-Arrow had a number of models, often offering them on a variety of wheelbase chassis and creating an impressive number of separate models. It was the first company to market a six-cylinder luxury automobile and employed impressive methods and procedures to ensure that each Pierce-Arrow built was quiet, powerful and trouble-free from the moment its new owner took delivery. While other manufacturers might rely on their customers to find and point out weaknesses in new models, Pierce-Arrow found them itself, corrected them and then charged a healthy premium for the confidence conferred by its deserved reputation for reliability, performance, silence and quality.

Pierce introduced its first six-cylinder automobile in 1907. The Series Q Great Arrow employed a T-head six with 648 cubic inches and a 60 horsepower ALAM rating. In 1909 the Series QQ, a 453-cubic inch T-head six with a 48.6 horsepower ALAM rating became the top of Pierce's model range while a smaller six, the Series SS, rated at 37 ALAM horsepower with a 347 cubic inch displacement joined the company's offering. Also in 1909 the company reorganized, splitting the bicycle and motorcycle business off from the automobile business which took the name Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company. George N. Pierce resigned from active involvement and management was turned over to Col. Charles Clifton who had been its Treasurer for years.

The Pierce-Arrow Model 36 was priced at an astounding $4,000 F.O.B. Buffalo, New York, and came with Pierce-Arrow's quality, rigid, luxuriously trimmed and appointed aluminum cast panel bodies.

Many enthusiasts prefer these cars as 'drivers,' as they have abundant performance and are joys to drive. They are very popular in Pierce-Arrow Society activities and in tour events with the Vintage Motor Car and Antique Automobile Clubs of America and can be seen in many of this country's most distinguished collections.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Another hallmark car of the early American automobile industry, naturally in a collection of this stature and of this era it was a necessity that an example of the renowned Pierce-Arrow was included. The car arrived in this stable 22 years ago in the February 2001.

According to correspondence on file, including a letter from Bernie Weis of the Pierce-Arrow Society, this 1911 car is fitted with a slightly later 1912 powerplant. The Pierce is known to trace much of its history in California where it is understood to have been recorded with license number 2369 in 1914. Its earliest recorded owner was Lillian Beal of Santa Barbara, who was succeeded by Samuel O Crouthers of Moreno Valley California and Phoenix, Arizona. Immediately prior to its present ownership it was owned from 1963 by Elmer A. Hankins of Riverside, California.

Known as the 'Peach orchard car', it was discovered by Elmer Hankins in the 1960s as a rolling chassis with the front seats intact and rear having been modified, presumably for some commercial purpose. It was subsequently restored under his watch, during which the correct aluminum rear section of the bodywork was recreated by George Armour.

Arriving in the collection those 20 or so years ago, it was one of a handful of stalwart touring cars in the group. Touring expeditions included a trip to England and Scotland in July 2005, a month long tour in Ireland in 2014, as well as many domestic events. For practical reasons a starter motor has been added.

Pierce-Arrows are as rated for their touring capabilities today as they were when new.
Lot to be sold without reserve.

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