Vehicle Description
From George Pierce's first single-cylinder Motorette in 1901 to the
final twelve-cylinder chassis built for Karl Wise in 1938,
Pierce-Arrow stood proudly for quality, craftsmanship, and luxury.
Along with Packard and Peerless, the Buffalo, New York firm
produced some of America's finest luxury motorcars. Despite an
impeccable reputation for quality, Pierce-Arrow often struggled
with financial instability and a limited dealer network. In 1928,
Pierce-Arrow's president met with Albert Erskine of Studebaker to
negotiate a merger. The deal injected the much-needed cash Pierce
required to produce their long-overdue L-Head eight-cylinder
engine, gave Pierce access to Studebaker's expansive dealer
network, and allowed Pierce-Arrow to operate independently.
Initially, at least, sales increased thanks to the superb new
eight. In 1931, chief engineer Karl Wise proudly unveiled a pair of
V-12 engines of 398 and 429 cubic inches, designed to take on
Packard and Cadillac in the multi-cylinder race. To promote its new
12-cylinder line, Pierce-Arrow hired the famous racing driver Ab
Jenkins to pilot a 1932 Model 53 at the Bonneville Salt Flats. The
factory prepared the car for the event simply by removing the
fenders and windscreen, which Jenkins drove for 24 hours at an
average speed of 112.91 miles per hour. He later obliterated his
own record, achieving 127 mph over 24 hours in the V-12 Pierce.
Unfortunately, Jenkins' success did not translate into sales.
Pierce-Arrow sold just 2,692 cars in 1932 and, as a result, lost
millions of dollars. Studebaker fell into receivership in 1933, and
Pierce was cut loose to become an independent manufacturer again.
Despite their superb quality and loyal client base, Pierce-Arrow
continued its precipitous slide toward bankruptcy, and the company
folded for good in 1938. The 1932 Model 53 offered here is one of
six short-wheelbase, twelve-cylinder Convertible Roadsters built
and is one of only three known survivors. The Model 53 Roadster was
the dark-horse performance car in the Pierce-Arrow catalog, and
Jenkins used an identical model for his record-breaking runs at
Bonneville in 1932. This car's known history goes back to the 1960s
when it belonged to the prolific collector Wally Rank. Mr. Rank
sold it to a fellow collector, Al Freddendahl of Minneapolis,
Minnesota. In 1979, Freddendahl sold the Pierce Roadster to Don
Meyer, who enjoyed it and cared for it for the ensuing decade.
Meyer sold the Pierce to his friend Tom Welch of Ohio in 1991 but
missed it enough to buy it back in the late 1990s. During his
tenure, Mr. Meyer added nearly 50,000 miles to the odometer! In
2014 it came into the care of the most recent owner, a collector of
significant Classic Era motorcars. As offered today, the
Pierce-Arrow's older restoration displays an appealing patina
earned through years of care and enjoyment and is the ideal
candidate for touring and vintage rallies. The two-tone silver and
black livery is glossy and consistent, with age-related
imperfections noted on inspection. Accessories include dual trumpet
horns, a painted metal trunk, driving lamps, dual side-mount
spares, chrome wire wheels, and the iconic Archer mascot. The light
gray leather upholstery has a similar careworn character, yet it
remains supple and in good condition overall. The door panels,
rumble seat, and carpets are in fine order, and the black canvas
top shows some slight wear in places but is otherwise sound. Proper
details include Pierce-Arrow branded instruments and controls for
the transmission freewheel. At 150 horsepower, Pierce-Arrow's V12
was on par with similar offerings from Packard and Cadillac. The
429 cubic-inch twelve in this car runs very well, with the velvety
smooth power delivery expected of a large-displacement
multi-cylinder engine. Recent road tests reveal it to have
excellent road manners, no doubt a result of its history as a
cherished and enthusiastically driven motorcar. The Pierce-Arrows
of 1932 count among the most sought-after models in the marque's
illustrious history, and this appealing example stands above the
ranks thanks to its exceptionally rare coachwork and desirable
drivetrain. It is a fine selection for CCCA CARavan tours or
similar events and will undoubtedly provide many years of enjoyable
driving for its next custodian. Offers welcome and trades
considered For additional details please view this listing directly
on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/7090-1932-pierce-arrow-twelve-convertible-roadster/