Vehicle Description
Once the pride of Buffalo, New York, Pierce-Arrow created some of
America's most prestigious and desirable automobiles of the
pre-WWII era. After George N. Pierce bought out his partners in a
manufacturing business, he shifted production from household goods
to motor vehicles. The earliest steam-powered Pierce car failed to
catch on; however, a switch to petrol power proved far more
successful. The deDion-powered Pierce Motorette sold quite well,
establishing the company on a solid footing for the future. In
1909, the company name changed to Pierce-Arrow, and the cars
steadily grew in size and stature, earning the marque a deserved
place in elite company alongside Packard and Peerless. For the bulk
of Pierce-Arrow production, the company relied on powerful T-head
six-cylinder engines. During the brass and nickel eras, these were
the Gold Standard of American engines, noted for their smooth
running and impressive output. But as the 1920s wore on, the
massive and inefficient T-head fell out of favor, replaced by more
sophisticated designs. Pierce-Arrow management and buyers tended
toward conservatism, so the tried-and-true T-head soldiered on into
the 1920s. But slow sales and stringent quality control measures
bordering on perfectionism meant there was little money to develop
new models. Work on a modern L-head eight-cylinder engine was
underway, but Pierce lacked the funding to bring it to production,
further hampering new sales. Help arrived, at least temporarily, in
1928 when Studebaker's President Albert Erskine negotiated a merger
with Pierce-Arrow. Under the agreement, Pierce could operate
independently, with Erskine as president and a much-needed influx
of cash allowed them to bring their L-head inline-eight to
production the following year. Things looked rosy for Pierce-Arrow,
as the new engine revitalized the marque and sales doubled in 1929
to nearly 10,000 units. Unfortunately, the happy marriage was
short-lived, as the Great Depression's economic impact was too deep
to overcome. Studebaker fell into receivership in 1933, cutting
Pierce-Arrow loose to struggle as an independent for a few more
years. Yet Pierce-Arrow never compromised its quality, and their
cars remained some of America's best until bankers locked the doors
for good in 1938. Offered to the public for the first time in
seventy years, this 1930 Pierce-Arrow Model B sedan joined Al
Frankel's stable back in 1950 and has remained a proud part of his
collection until now. California registration cards document the
car's long-term ownership, although little is known about its early
history. Several years ago, Mr. Frankel initiated a complete,
nut-and-bolt restoration via Mr. Jim Livings, though sadly, he
would not see it to fruition. As offered, the coachwork, chassis,
suspension, and drivetrain are restored and reassembled to a high
standard, leaving only the interior upholstery to be completed to
the new owner's preference. The two-tone paintwork presents quite
well and is finished to a good standard of quality in a handsome
maroon and black scheme with gold coach stripes. Close inspection
reveals a few minor imperfections in the finish, which do little to
detract from the excellent overall presentation. The brightwork and
bumpers are in superb order, and the car features a factory trunk
rack, dual side-mount spares, wind wings, triple tail lamp, and
auxiliary driving lamps. The black vinyl roof topping is in
excellent order, accented with chrome decorative landau irons.
Typical of Pierce-Arrows of the period, this car features robust
artillery-style wheels in lieu of flashy, high-maintenance wires.
The wheels are finished in black with chrome center caps and trim
rings, and they provide a distinctly purposeful appearance,
particularly with the black wall tires. While the upholstery
requires a full restoration, the dash, instrumentation, interior
woodwork, and most primary controls are restored to a high
standard. The interior is a blank canvas of sorts for the next
owner to complete the striking livery. Under the hood,
Pierce-Arrow's 125-horsepower L-Head eight is highly detailed with
period-correct fittings, an oil filter canister, and proper paint
finishes on the major components. The underside of the 139-inch
wheelbase chassis is similarly well-dressed, and the black finish
is in good order, with only some "shelf wear" due to the time
elapsed between phases of the restoration. Once completed, this
handsome Pierce-Arrow will surely be a delightful and highly
attractive tour car with room for the whole family. Its next keeper
can delight in being only the second person in 70 years to own it,
and it will undoubtedly provide many more years of motoring
enjoyment. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional
details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6690-1930-pierce-arrow-model-b-sedan/