Vehicle Description
Founded in Buffalo, New York, in 1878 by George N. Pierce, the
George N. Pierce Company initially manufactured household goods
such as birdcages and iceboxes. The firm quickly gained a
reputation for quality and innovation. By 1895, it shifted focus to
bicycles-a booming industry at the time.
Like several of their contemporaries, the bicycle boom led to a
natural transition into motorized transport. Pierce began its
initial foray into four-wheeled automobiles with a small steam car
in 1890. Although the steamer proved troublesome, it led to
experimentation with a quadracycle, before the Pierce Motorette
automobile was developed in 1901. The first model to use the
"Arrow" moniker came along for 1903 and positioned the engine up
front. In relatively short order, Pierce-Arrow automobiles were
considered among the finest cars built in America. In 1906 alone,
Pierce built roughly 400 of the 28-32hp cars and another 300 of the
highly exclusive 40-50 hp machines. Then, in 1909 Pierce introduced
its first Model 48 and ushered in the era of the company's longest
running model. During its lengthy reign, the Model 48 was always
powered by a big, powerful, T-Head six. Perhaps the most famous
distinguishing feature was the way the headlamps were fared into
the front fenders beginning in 1913, a design that was patented by
them and remained a Pierce Arrow trademark throughout the existence
of the firm.
Pierce-Arrow continually evolved and refined the Model 48
throughout its lengthy production run. This 1916 Model 48 features
Pierce's mighty 524 cubic-inch, 12-valve six with a 4.5-inch bore
and a long 5.5-inch stroke. Although the 48 indicated the taxable
horsepower rating, the engine actually produced in the area of 75
horsepower and a veritable ocean of torque. With the assistance of
a high rear-end ratio and the four-speed transmission, the T-Head
six would propel the large touring car to speeds of up to 55 miles
per hour with ease.
The Model 48 was available in a wide variety of open and closed
styles, and this example features the grand 7-Passenger Tourer
body, which is beautifully built and impressively imposing in its
scale. Pierce-Arrow bodies were made of cast aluminum, a skill the
company acquired from its years manufacturing general goods. In
fact, the company rarely employed outside coachbuilders.
According to prior owner and longtime Pierce-Arrow historian and
connoisseur, Pat Craig, this powerful Model 48-B-4 was ordered new
by Albert E. Swabacher Jr., who specified the seven-passenger
touring body but without rear jump seats. A prominent San Francisco
investment banker and civic leader, Mr. Swabacher spent his
available free time at a dude ranch he owned in the Teton
Mountains, and it was there that the Pierce-Arrow was kept, used
for chauffeured hunting and fishing trips. Reportedly Mr. Swabacher
would camp in a bed set up in the back of the car, hence the
deletion of the jump seats, and had the horn mounted on the left
side-as while he utilized a chauffeur to drive the car, the
adventurous banker preferred to blast the car's horn himself,
alerting his staff that he had returned from yet another expedition
into the wild.
The Pierce-Arrow remained in Mr. Swabacher's ownership until his
passing in 1963, then was sold to Roy Leiske, a collector in
Wisconsin. Mr. Craig acquired the car from the Leiske family in
2008, becoming only its third owner. An exhaustive two-year
restoration followed, in the subtle coach color of deep maroon,
contrasted with natural rubber tires. The car was sold in 2013 to a
respected collector, under whose care it continued to be sparingly
shown and carefully preserved.
Finished in maroon, it is attractively accented with subtle grey
coach lines on the body as well as on the artillery wheels. The
paint is in excellent order throughout .The interior features
gorgeous black button-tufted leather upholstery and brown
carpeting, and lined black leather top. The car is equipped with a
trunk as well as straps under the top, designed to carry the
occupants' hats-a thoughtful touch, then and now. Significantly, it
retains such wonderful notes of authenticity as the original
chassis number stamping on the center cross-member of the frame,
and it is correctly finished throughout.
The restoration is extremely well preserved, with its interior and
paint both in overall excellent condition and would still be
well-suited to show with its next proud caretaker. This grand
Pierce-Arrow is extremely well-sorted, runs strong and will be
terrific for touring or for display in local, regional, and
marque-centric shows.
Offers welcome and trades considered
