To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION at RM Sothebys' Open Roads, Fall event, 11
- 20 November 2020.
Estimate:
$80,000 - $100,000
- A rare and significant early model from a hallowed marque
- One of approximately 35 known surviving single-cylinder
Pierces
- Pioneering (for the era) use of steering wheel control; body
features hideaway front seats
- Veteran Car Club of Great Britain certified; 7-time
London-Brighton Run participant
- Perfectly suited to antique and veteran car club tours and
events worldwide
The path to greatness for Pierce-Arrow winds back to 1865 when
three partners, Heintz, Pierce, and Munschauer, formed their
eponymous manufacturing company. The company constructed exquisite
quality gilded birdcages, ice boxes, and various high-end household
appliances. In 1872, the middle partner bought out his colleagues
and reorganized it as the George N. Pierce Company. Bicycles were
added to the portfolio, and in 1900, company treasurer Colonel
Charles Clifton urged Pierce to pursue the development of an
automobile. After failing with a steam-powered car, Pierce hired
English-born engineer David Fergusson in 1901, who created their
first successful production automobile. The brilliant Fergusson
emerged as the driving force behind Pierce's rapid growth, and he
served as chief engineer for the next twenty years.
The first design to spring from Fergusson's drawing board was the
Motorette, a four-wheeled affair powered by a single-cylinder
engine (one that looked suspiciously similar to a De Dion unit
previously built under license by Pierce). Fergusson and his team
continually developed the unit from its original 2 and 3/4
horsepower to produce 8 horsepower by 1904. A two-speed planetary
gearbox sent the drive to the rear axle, and the steering was by a
wheel, which was a rather innovative feature when tiller steering
was still the preferred standard.
The so-called Stanhope that followed was slightly enlarged, with
four-passenger seating courtesy of a front-mounted dicky seat.
Renowned for their superb quality and durability, the Pierce
Motorette and Stanhope laid the foundation for the larger models to
follow, which put Pierce-Arrow at the pinnacle of the American
motoring industry.
This exceptionally rare 1904 Pierce Stanhope is marvelously
well-preserved and brimming with character. Inspected and dated by
the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain, it is a seven-time
participant in the London-Brighton Veteran Car Run and one of
approximately 35 survivors from 600 single-cylinder Pierces
produced from 1901 through 1905. Its known history began in the
early 1950s, when it was part of the Autorama Museum in Hypoluxo,
Florida. The Autorama Museum was founded by tenor opera singer and
entertainer James Melton to showcase his impressive collection of
historically significant motorcars. Following its time with Melton,
the Pierce was acquired by A. Atwater Kent, Jr., of the Atwater
Kent Manufacturing Company. Mr. Kent then donated the Pierce
Stanhope to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and
was displayed in their museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
In the late 1990s, Mr. Charles Brown purchased the car from the
museum and brought it home to England. Brown, along with specialist
Alan Hancock, painstakingly prepared and preserved it for
acceptance into the VCC, intending to enjoy it on tours and driving
events. In Brown's care, the Veteran Car Club of Great Britain
officially dated it as a 1904 model, with a tag proudly displaying
this information on the base of the seat. Since receiving its
certification, it completed the London-Brighton run an impressive
seven times, between 2003-2005 and again from 2007-2010.
More recently, this charming Pierce Stanhope has been in the care
of an active United States-based collector and enthusiast. It
presents with an attractive patina and the appealing character of a
well-loved event car. Finished in green with black mudguards, the
Pierce is refreshingly honest, wearing its patina like a badge of
honor. Accessories include dual Gray & Davis carriage lamps and a
matching taillamp of the same manufacture. It has been updated with
electric starting for ease of operation while touring.
With official certification by the VCC, it is eligible for
prestigious veteran car events worldwide, and is a charming example
of George N. Pierce's earliest efforts. It boasts a fascinating
history with pioneering automobile collectors, and it has been
enjoyed to the fullest by its past custodians. To view this car and
others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM
website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/0620.
