I went to the Portland Art Museum a while back for the Allure of the Automobile exhibit and it was pretty fantastic. Here are some of my favorite shots of a 1933 Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow.
Blurb from the PAM:
"Pierce-Arrow descended from Heintz, Pierce, and Munschauer in Buffalo, NY. Founded in 1865, it manufactured bird cages and iceboxes. When George N Pierce took control in 1896, the firm produced bicycles. With its dignified advertising, elegant styling, and respectable dealers, Pierce-Arrow was the choice of wealthy owners and rivaled Packard for prestige. It pioneered the extensive use of aluminum, including cast-aluminum bodies, and was the first automaker to feature hydraulic valve operation. But the staunchly conservative company clung to six-cylinder engines long after rivals Packard and Cadillac introduced V-8s.
By 1926, Pierce had been forced to merge with Studebaker and move to their headquarters in South Bend, IN. In an effort to spur sales, five hand-built concept cars, designed by Ralph Roberts and called Silver Arrows, were assembled in South Bend. At the Chicago Century of Progress International Exposition in 1933-vying with Duesenberg's 'Twenty Grand' and Packard's 'Car of the Dome'-the Silver Arrow upstaged them all with its good looks, integrated body and fenders, and tapered, aircraft-like shape. The new Silver-Arrow pioneered modern trends with its low roof-line, rounded door openings, envelope front fenders, and flat body sides that concealed twin spare tires. In a sea of boxy sedans, the sleek showcar was as modern as tomorrow. Pierce-Arrow went under in mid-1938 and is best remembered for the magnificent Silver Arrow. This is one of three survivors."
Specs:
Engine Type: 462-cid, 24-valve L-head V-12
Horsepower: 175 bhp at 4,000 rpm
Transmission: 3-speed manual
Top Speed: 115 mph
Wheelbase: 139 inches
Suspension: I-beam front axle with semi-elliptical leaf springs
Weight: 5,100 pounds
Coachwork: Designed by Philip O. Wright, built by Studebaker in South Bend, IN
