To Be OFFERED AT AUCTIONEstimate:
$375,000 - $450,000
- The sole surviving LeBaron-bodied Model 41 convertible
Victoria
- Believed to have been exhibited at the 1931 New York Auto
Show
- Best in Class at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
- Recipient of the 2009 Bernard J. Weis Award for the Most
Authentic Restoration
- The top national-level accolade from the Pierce-Arrow
Society
- Best of Show at the 2012 Concours d'Elegance of the Eastern
United States
- Known ownership history from new; believed to retain its
original engine
- Carburetor and shock absorbers rebuilt during current
ownership
- A beautifully presented example of one of the marque's rarest
and most elegant automobiles
From its earliest days, Pierce-Arrow was the choice of American
presidents and society elite. The marque occupied the pinnacle of
the domestic luxury market, comprising the legendary "Three Ps,"
along with Peerless and Packard. For its top-shelf Model 41 of
1931, Pierce-Arrow employed a gargantuan 147-inch wheelbase. These
majestic cars included a new 132-horsepower inline eight, the most
powerful in its class, and were distinguishable by a deeper
radiator shell and heightened brightwork, while a new archer
radiator mascot was introduced.
One of the most elegant yet sporting body designs ever to clothe
Pierce-Arrow chassis was the convertible Victoria built by the
highly regarded coachbuilder LeBaron. Only approximately 25 LeBaron
bodies of various configurations were ordered by the manufacturer
in total. According to research by Pierce-Arrow Society historian
Bernard Weis, 13 examples from the group survive today. The
featured convertible Victoria is the only one known to exist, and
it may be the sole example produced.
Believed to have been displayed at the 1931 New York Auto Show,
this LeBaron convertible Victoria claims a known ownership history
from new, spanning six caretakers through 2001 (including marque
collector Joseph Gazza). Gazza sold the Pierce-Arrow in 2001 to Los
Altos, California, resident Tom Williams, who retained the noted
marque restorer Eric Rosenau to comprehensively refurbish the car,
with final detailing completed by Bob Jacobson. Notably, the Pierce
was reunited with a Model 41 engine acquired from Pierce-Arrow
Society member Glenn Perkins, and engine number 325760 is believed
to be the original factory-installed unit.
The Pierce-Arrow was then presented at the 2008 Pebble Beach
Concours d'Elegance, earning Best in Class. At the 2009 National
Meet in Temecula, California, the car won the Bernard J. Weis Award
for the Most Authentic Restoration, the top national-level accolade
from the Pierce-Arrow Society. The Model 41 also won Best of Show
at the 2012 Concours d'Elegance of the Eastern United States. After
passing through two more respected collections of American
classics, the Pierce-Arrow was acquired in late 2016 by the current
caretaker, who subsequently rebuilt the carburetor and the shock
absorbers while accruing no more than 100 miles.
As the sole example known to exist, with authenticity confirmed by
national-level Pierce-Arrow Society judges, this LeBaron-bodied
Model 41 convertible Victoria offers astute collectors an
unparalleled opportunity to acquire one of the finest and rarest
Pierces ever built.To view this car and others currently consigned
to this auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/mo20.
