Vehicle Description
Pierce-Arrow is one of those storied American brands that make car
show judges stand up and take notice. In fact, this 1928 Model 81
Club Brougham is your instant ticket to a premium spot at car shows
where they'll park you next to Packard and Peerless (it completes
the Three-Ps of the best in pre-war American motoring.) So this
two-door sedan already seems like a tantalizing proposition, even
before you read about its history.
The two-tone coordinating colors of tan and brown give this one an
instant regal appearance. And of course, the Pierce-Arrows are
always recognizable with the hallmark headlight formed into the
fenders. It's a premium touch that wouldn't be mainstream for even
almost a decade after this one was hand-crafted. In fact, the extra
time it took to make a Pierce-Arrow really shows in this example.
The body continues to have clean lines from well-fitting panels
nearly a century after they were formed. So while the Model 81 was
supposed to be the higher volume model, it still was never purely
pedestrian. And the rarity is in the numbers. It's believed that
for every 120 cars Ford made in 1928, there was one Pierce-Arrow
Model 81 produced. As you look through the photos, you may have
noticed the unique wheels. One side of the car is done in a bold
red, and the other is a detailed presentation with green. The story
goes that the car was repainted from its original green many
decades ago. When it came time to choose a wheel color, the husband
and wife were decisively split on what it should be. So rather than
one decision, each side was finished to their desire. It's a his
and hers finishing touch. That makes for a great story about a
simple solution for those who are used to getting all they want in
premium style. And that's at the heart of Pierce-Arrow
ownership.
The whole interior has a well-preserved and well-crafted feeling
for it. And you'll especially love the elegant presentation of the
gauges. Pierce-Arrow used precision Waltham dials and set them in a
panel that's elegant enough to look like a mantel clock. The mohair
cloth has a great pattern that seems to represent the 1920s kind of
style well. There are more great details, like roll-down windows
for both rows, a pop-out windshield for ventilation, exterior
trunk, and a large grippy four-spoke steering wheel (it will have
you thinking about all the generations of aristocrats that came
before you every time you grab it.)
Under the hood is the correct-style 288 cubic-inch inline six
motor. It shares a similar but simplified style to the famous Dual
Valve Six line. As you dig a little deeper, you'll see this was
upgraded to a 12-volt electrical system and an alternator. The
stock-style components are still in place and bypassed in case
purists want to return the original setup. But what this upgrade
really does is make for a classic motor that really loves to fire
up and run. The full powertrain has a high degree of originality,
right down to the three-speed manual transmission. It will require
a little double clutching (if you like 1920s cars, you're likely
already a pro). It's a torque-filled package that gets around town
with ease, and these Pierce-Arrows were also known for their strong
brakes.
This example has spent the majority of its life with only a few
families. So it's a well-preserved Model 81 that remains an
upper-class car with upper-class respect. Call now!