1932 Pierce Arrow Club Brougham

• The Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company was founded in Buffalo, New York by George Pierce in 1901, and remained active until 1938. 
  

• Noted as one of the world’s Premier Motor Cars, Pierce-Arrow, along with Peerless and Packard represented the Legendary “Three P’s of Motordom” 
  

• In 1908 U.S. President Elect William H. Taft lobbied for a small fleet of cars for the White House. Congress later approved $12,000 for 3 cars: a 1909 Pierce Arrow model 36 Brougham, a 1909 Baker Electric, and a 1909 White Motel M Steam Car. This made Pierce-Arrow one of the first official Presidential Automobiles. Every US President from Taft to FDR would have at least one Pierce-Arrow in their Fleet. 
  

• Pierce-Arrow was widely known for expensive, limited production, luxury cars, but they also produced commercial trucks, fire trucks, boats, camp trailers, motorcycles, and bicycles. 
  

• In 1914 Pierce-Arrow patented their headlight placement in flared housings on the front fenders. This would become the single most defining characteristic of the marque, though traditional headlamps were still optional (and even required in their native New York). 
  

• In 1926 Pierce-Arrow became the first American Car Brand to offer Power Brakes. 
  

• In 1928, on a 5-year agreement, the company merged with Studebaker who was looking to expand into the luxury market. The following year Pierce-Arrow unveiled their new Straight 8 power plant, and sales nearly doubled. 
  

• This Brougham features roll down blinds for all rear windows, cigarette lighters in front and rear, freewheeling feature, and ride control adjustable from soft to firm. 
  

• This example has a completely original interior, and was optioned with LaSalle AM radio, and Tropic Aire heater.  
  

• This Model 54 has a 137” wheelbase, the shortest of three options for the platform (137, 142, and 147), it is equipped with the 366 cubic inch straight 8 producing 125 horsepower and has an estimated top speed of 85-90 mph.  
  

• In 1932, near the bottom of the Great Depression, this vehicle was priced new at $3,100 ($72,000USD today). Only 2,692 Pierce arrows were sold that year, barely a quarter of the units sold in the banner year of 1929 just 3 years prior. The worst was yet to come 
  

• In 1932, at the end of the 5-year merger agreement, a struggling Studebaker would sell Pierce-Arrow to a group of investors in Buffalo. Aside from the brand being late to the V-12 revolution; Challenges brought about by the Great Depression, and changes in consumer perception of the American Luxury Car would cause sales to dwindle, ultimately leading to the Demise of the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company in May of 1938.