Chassis No. 2230001
Engine No. 349675

They were the conveyance of American presidents and royalty, Hollywood stars and business moguls. Originally a Buffalo, New York, bicycle maker, Pierce-Arrow turned to fine automobiles and from 1905 through 1909 won the Glidden Tour, the most respected competition of the era. By the 1920s Pierce-Arrow was revered as one of the “Three P's” of American luxury along with Packard and Peerless. But the Great Depression was cruel to luxury automakers. Pierce-Arrow produced 6,795 cars in 1930 right after the Stock Market crash, but by 1937 Peerless and Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg were padlocked, and Pierce-Arrow built only 191 cars.

Yet there was a glimmer of hope for the beleaguered company when the first 1938 car was built, this Model 1801 Convertible Coupe, thought to have been created for display on the auto show circuit. While the company still offered their 175 horsepower V12, the Convertible Coupe was powered by a 385 cu-in 150 horsepower straight-eight equipped with their pioneering hydraulic valve lifters. The three-speed manual transmission had overdrive and free-wheeling, and the brakes were vacuum-assisted. This Model 1801 rode on a 139-inch wheelbase and was originally painted either cream or tan, but when restoration was completed in 1999 by a prior owner after 35 years in storage, it was resprayed Lombardo Blue, a striking contrast to the rich tan leather interior dominated by an Art Deco instrument panel. The passenger side features a compartment for a golf bag and clubs, and in back, a stylish rumble seat for two. This Pierce-Arrow earned 98.5 points at a Classic Car Club of America show in July 2000 after enduring a two-hour thunderstorm while driving to the event. It was also featured in the 2002 and 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance under AAU ownership and participated in the 2010 Pebble Beach Tour d'Elegance.

By 13 May 1938 (a Friday ironically) Pierce-Arrow had crafted just 18 eight-cylinder and 22 V12 automobiles, and the doors closed forever. This Model 1801 Convertible Coupe is likely the last open body Pierce-Arrow created and one of three 1938 eight-cylinder cars remaining according to the Pierce-Arrow Society of America—a fitting bookend to the marque's enduring legacy.