Pierce-Arrow

The Pierce-Arrow was a Buffalo, New York based manufacturing company from 1901 to 1938. Pierce-Arrow is best known for their expensive luxury automobiles.

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 companies' engineering departments, which continued to function as separate entities. Pierce-Arrow also gained a dealer network, as the cars were sold through Studebaker dealerships. Under Studebaker's ownership, Pierce-Arrow retired the venerable 6-cylinder engine and in 1929 introduced an L-head straight-eight engine, which displaced 365 cubic inches.

During the 1920s the Pierce-Arrow truck range was extended to six models, from 2 ½ to 7 ½ tons, all using 4­cylinder engines and 4-speed gearboxes. In 1924 they introduced a purpose-built bus chassis, the Model Z powered by the 6-cylinder T-head engine used in Pierce­-Arrow passenger cars. Two wheelbases were offered, 16ft 4in and 18ft 4in. Although intended for passenger work, the Model Z chassis was also fitted with goods bodies. In 1927 a smaller line of trucks was introduced, the Fleet Arrow series which used engines and other components from the Series 80 passenger car. The following year came the merger with Studebaker, but truck production continued, and in 1929 there were three models in the Fleet Arrow range, and six in the larger truck range. Some of the latter were little changed in appearance from the World War I era, with solid tires and open sided cabs. The 1931 range ran from 2- to 8-tons, with dual ignition on the larger models and dual rear axles on the 8 tonner. The last new model was the 1932 2-tonner which had a dual ignition straight-8 engine and was capable of 55mph. Production at Buffalo ended in November 1932 when the truck side of the business was transferred to White at Cleveland.

Subject ID: 1774