Vehicle Description
Pierce-Arrow's origins stretch back to the mid-1800s to a company
known as Heintz, Pierce, and Munchauer. Based in Buffalo, New York,
they produced household goods such as birdcages and iceboxes, all
to a very high quality. In 1872, George N. Pierce bought out his
partners and renamed the firm George N. Pierce Company, shifting
focus to bicycles and, by 1900, experimentation with a
steam-powered automobile. The steamer failed to catch on, so Pierce
and his team returned with a small buggy with a French-made De Dion
petrol engine. The Pierce "Motorette" proved far more successful,
selling 150 examples. In just a few short years, Pierce found its
momentum and joined the ranks of the most exclusive luxury
automobile manufacturers in America. As one of the "Three Ps" along
with Packard and Peerless, Pierce-Arrow built some of the finest
motorcars of the era, renowned for their grand scale and
locomotive-like quality. Much of Pierce-Arrow's early success is
credited to chief engineer David Fergusson, who held that role for
nearly two decades and led the firm to the pinnacle of luxury car
manufacturing in the teens and twenties. By 1909 the company was
officially known as Pierce-Arrow, and they proved their worth by
winning five Glidden Tours in a row. The cars grew in scale and
prestige, with innovations including cast aluminum coachwork,
hydraulic tappets, and power-assisted braking. Despite Fergusson's
departure and the arrival of new management, Pierce-Arrow remained
committed to quality while refining their catalog to appeal to a
broader range of buyers. By the late 1920s, the range consisted of
just two models - the Model 80 and the Model 36, the latter
positioned as the flagship. Built atop a 138-inch wheelbase
chassis, the Model 36 featured Pierce-Arrow's tried and true T-head
inline six-cylinder engine. While Pierce had a more modern
8-cylinder L-head on the drawing board, they lacked the funding to
bring it to production. While it was out of fashion by 1927, the
414 cubic-inch T-head featured 24 valves and twin ignition to
produce an impressive 100 horsepower. Other features included a
3-speed manual gearbox and vacuum boosted mechanical brakes at all
four corners. Pierce-Arrow's quality control was beyond rigorous -
every Model 36 engine was bench tested for 15 hours before being
torn down and inspected. After re-assembly, two more hours of
testing followed in a soundproof room to check for unwelcome
noises. Only then would an engine be assigned to a chassis. Each
complete Model 36 received five more hours of dyno testing and 40
miles of road testing! Fewer than 2,000 Model 36s were built over a
brief, two-year production run when the L-Head 8-cylinder arrived
along with an influx of cash from Studebaker in 1929. This
Pierce-Arrow Model 36 is one of approximately 1,400 of its type
produced in 1927, and it wears the factory's handsome 7-passenger
tourer coachwork presented in beautiful two-tone green livery over
a brown leather interior. A cherished part of Al Frankel's
California-based collection since 1964, it is a marvelous example
with a well-preserved, high-quality restoration. Records show
continuous ownership in the Frankel collection for the past
fifty-six years, and it appears the bulk of the renovation took
place in the mid-1990s. Following its restoration, Frankel and his
family enjoyed the Pierce in numerous shows and concours events
along the West Coast and continued to maintain the car in excellent
condition. While the Model 36 is a large and impressive machine, it
is far more user-friendly than the gargantuan Models 48 and 66 that
preceded it. This example also has unique features that set it
apart, including rear-mounted spare wheels, and the rarely-seen
separate-mounted drum headlamps, which were a factory option in
place of Pierce's typical fender-mounted lamps. The clean,
uncluttered profile is particularly handsome on this Tourer, with
wonderfully purposeful and sporty quality. As with all Model 36s,
the body is aluminum and beautifully crafted with precisely fitted
doors and panels. The paint is in excellent condition, with deep
reflections and good quality surface finishing. Nickel plating is
similarly excellent, displaying a warm luster on the lamps,
bumpers, and fittings. The attractive brown leather upholstery
shows signs of continuous use while remaining supple and in very
good order overall. The front seat, in particular, has a charming
character, like a well-seasoned catcher's mitt. Accessories include
a robe rail and a pair of disappearing opera seats in the rear
compartment. The simulated woodgrain dash houses an array of
original Waltham instruments and original Bakelite switchgear.
Lastly, the tan canvas top is in good condition and includes a set
of matching side curtains. The heart of this Model 36 is the mighty
414 cubic inch T-head, which presents in fine order in the engine
bay. Some light corrosion is present on select surfaces, consistent
with this being an older restoration that has been driven. A look
underneath reveals properly finished chassis and mechanical
components, showing signs of regular enjoyment. Records show a full
fuel system and cooling system overhaul in 2011, and additional
servicing has the car running and driving very well. Rare,
powerful, and exciting to drive, the Pierce-Arrow Model 36 is, in
many ways, the last of the "pure" Pierces before Studebaker's
ill-fated takeover. The same hands have cherished this marvelous
example since 1964, and it is now ready to begin the next chapter
of its long and storied life. Offers welcome and trades considered
For additional details please view this listing directly on our
website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6689-1927-pierce-arrow-model-36-tourer/