Vehicle Description
From George Pierce's first single-cylinder Motorette in 1901 to the
final twelve-cylinder car that rolled off the line for Karl Wise in
1938, the Pierce-Arrow name remained synonymous with quality,
craftsmanship, and luxury. Along with Packard and Peerless, the
Buffalo, New York firm build America's finest luxury motorcars,
earning a loyal clientele along the way. Despite the impeccable
reputation, Pierce-Arrow, like many of its high-end contemporaries,
struggled amid challenging economic conditions. When George Pierce
and many of his colleagues retired shortly after World War I, new
owners took over the day-to-day operations. Under new management,
Pierce-Arrow became slow to respond to buyer's wishes, and their
products soon became stale and dated. Help arrived in 1928 when
Pierce Arrow's president met with Albert Erskine of Studebaker to
negotiate a merger. The resulting partnership allowed Pierce-Arrow
to operate independently and provided them with the cash necessary
to finally introduce their long-overdue L-Head inline
eight-cylinder engine as well as take advantage of Studebaker's
vast dealer network. Sales improved, albeit briefly, and in 1931,
Pierce-Arrow joined the multi-cylinder race with a powerful V12
engine designed by chief engineer Karl Wise. Despite the early
promise, the partnership between Studebaker and Pierce-Arrow
unraveled quickly. Studebaker fell into receivership in 1933, and
Pierce was cut loose; left to struggle as an independent luxury car
maker in the midst of the Great Depression. With sales in
free-fall, Phil Wright was brought aboard as a consultant to design
a new flagship that would show the world what Pierce-Arrow could
do. Write produced a stunning, streamlined sedan based on the
twelve-cylinder chassis, dramatically named the Silver Arrow. It
made its grand debut at the 1933 New York Auto Show with the slogan
"Suddenly it's 1940!" The sensational machine featured fully
enveloped front fenders, no running boards, and a distinct fastback
roof treatment with a triangular rear window opening. It was a
masterpiece of modern design; however, the shocking $10,000 price
tag kept even the wealthiest customers away during the austere
early 1930s. Only five were built, although the highly advanced
styling went on to influence Pierce-Arrow's regular production cars
later in the decade. In 1934, The Silver Arrow name reappeared on a
flagship coupe which drew heavily from the Phil Wright-penned
original. Clearly adapted from the show car, albeit with more
conventional features, the two-door coupe was available on the
eight-cylinder or twelve-cylinder chassis. Unfortunately, neither
the show car nor the production version could save Pierce-Arrow,
and in 1938, the company folded, and its assets were
unceremoniously sold off. Despite Pierce-Arrow's Depression-era
struggles, they continued to produce some of the most beautiful
cars of the time, exemplified by this marvelous 1934 840A Silver
Arrow Coupe. Presented in a handsome, understated two-tone dove
gray livery, this Silver Arrow is a lovely example with a matured,
well-maintained older restoration. The Silver Arrow was one of just
three body styles available on the 144-inch wheelbase chassis, and
this car is one of only 1,740 Pierces produced in total in 1934.
While the production Silver Arrow is somewhat more conventional
than the show car, it is still a dramatic design, and this car,
with its lack of side mount spare wheels and light color scheme,
stays true to the original concept. The paintwork is in good
condition all around, showing a few minor touchups and
imperfections that are consistent with the age of the restoration.
Red artillery wheels provide a nicely-judged visual pop, which
repeats with the red coach stripes on the body. As with most
Pierce-Arrow bodies, the Silver Arrow was built in-house, and it
proudly displays a "Body by Pierce" badge on the cowl. 1934 models
used markedly less brightwork than before, however, the bumpers,
grille, wheel d�cor, and other various trim parts are excellent,
showing only minor polish marks in the finish. Thanks to the added
length of the wheelbase, the interior of the Silver Arrow coupe is
quite spacious. Individual front seats and the generous rear bench
are covered in gray broadcloth and piped in black. Carpets and
headlining are trimmed to match. The upholstery is in very good
condition, showing minimal wear and a slight broken-in character.
Real wood and wood-grained metal trim surround the cockpit, in good
condition all around, with only some minor flaws found on close
inspection. Original Pierce-branded instruments present well, and
the controls and switches appear in good order. The L-Head
inline-eight displaces 385 cubic inches and delivers its 140
horsepower with exceptional refinement. Even in the engine
compartment, Pierce-Arrow's typical restraint is evident. Finished
in gloss black with chrome hardware, the presentation is elegant
and straightforward. The engine in this car remains in sound and
attractive condition, appearing tidy, nicely maintained and with a
light patina from use. The Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow coupe is one
of the most distinctive and captivating designs of the period. This
car's comprehensive, well-maintained restoration has matured
nicely, making it a smart and stylish choice for CCCA CARavan Tours
and casual weekend drives.
