CHASSIS NO: 225755 - The very first Pierce-Arrow in the Porbeck Collection, CCCA Full Classic_, Excellent entry level touring car. 366 cid inline eight-cylinder engine rated at 125 HP, 3 1/2" bore by 4 3/4" stroke, 5:1 compression ratio and engine speed of 3200 rpm, three-speed manual transmission; wheelbase: 137". SHIPPING NOTE: WORLDWIDE AUCTIONEERS CAN PLAY AN ASSISTIVE ROLE IN FACILITATING SHIPPING/TRANSPORT AT THE BUYER'S EXPENSE. VIEW MORE PICTURES

In 1872, the George N. Pierce Company was formed and, by 1896, the company began producing bicycles. After the turn of the century, the company began experimenting with automobiles, initially with steam power, and the early years of the company saw rapid advancements. After initially building single and twin-cylinder Motorette designs, Pierce decided to concentrate on making larger, more luxurious cars for an upscale market.
When Pierce introduced the _Great Arrow_ in 1904, it was a huge departure from his earlier designs. Featuring a powerful four-cylinder engine mounted in the front, the Great Arrow quickly established the company_s reputation by winning the prestigious Glidden Trophy in 1905. The Glidden Tour was an endurance run of over a thousand miles with the trophy being awarded to the most roadworthy car on the tour. With Percy Pierce behind the wheel, the _Great Arrow_ went on to win the Glidden Trophy for five consecutive years solidifying Pierce_s reputation for reliability and ruggedness.
In 1907, Pierce sold all rights to the business, and the company was renamed the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company a year later. The company would continue to prosper with the introduction of a six-cylinder engine which would become the hallmark of Pierce-Arrow for many years to come and, in addition to cars, the company would go on to produce commercial trucks, fire engines, and motorcycles as well.
For its time, the Pierce-Arrow featured a high degree of technological sophistication. The company pioneered the use of aluminum, hydraulic tappets, and power brakes among other innovations, and Pierce-Arrow enjoyed considerable success during the post World War I period. However, by the end of the Roaring Twenties, the company_s designs and engineering had seemingly become dated.
In 1928, the Studebaker Corporation of South Bend, Indiana, gained control of the Buffalo firm. The association was to last for five years with moderate benefits to both respective companies which continued to function as separate entities although they shared a dealer network, as the cars were sold through Studebaker dealerships.
With the Great Depression lurking just around the corner, Pierce-Arrow introduced a completely new line of cars for 1929. The new Pierce-Arrows were long, low, and a great success, setting a new sales record of almost 10,000 cars in 1929. Under Studebaker's ownership, Pierce-Arrow retired the venerable six-cylinder engine and introduced a newly developed L-head straight-eight engine for the 1929 model year which displaced 366 cubic-inches and was rated at 125 horsepower. Unlike the 1928 Series 81 and 36 cars that had a cast steel block bolted to an aluminum crankcase, the new nine main bearing eight-cylinder engine was cast with a single crankcase and cylinder block assembly. Additionally, the new engine incorporated an L-head arrangement for the valves rather than the Series 36's T-head, and it used a Stromberg UU-2 carburetor unlike earlier models that used a carburetor of Pierce-Arrow manufacture.
The Model 43 Club Sedan was the introductory model for Pierce-Arrow in 1931. With its new straight-eight engine under the new, longer hood, the new model sold for $2,785 from the factory, and Pierce-Arrow advertised a claimed top speed of 85 mph. This particular example is the first Pierce-Arrow John Porbeck bought for his collection back in 1997, and it started his great passion for Pierce-Arrows. The car is an older restoration that is still in remarkably good condition. It would make an excellent driver or touring car and would be a good way to join the ranks of Pierce-Arrow ownership.