1910 Pierce-Arrow Model 36

From producing household items like gilded bird cages, George Norman Pierce turned to bicycle production before the turn of the century and its first automobile in 1901. This single-cylinder, two-speed Motorette was followed two years later (in 1903) by a two-cylinder car called the Arrow. The company continued to climb upmarket, with larger and more luxurious cars that were among the finest of the era. In 1904, they introduced the Great Arrow, becoming one of its most successful products.

From 1905 to 1909, Pierce-Arrow won all five of the Glidden Tours while achieving perfect scores in all but one.

While most other luxury marques relied upon outside coachbuilders, Pierce-Arrow controlled all aspects of construction, including the coachwork. They perfected their casting techniques with their Buffalo, New York neighbor, Aluminum Company of America, producing cast aluminum body panels as thin as 1/8 inch. The Pierce-Arrow bodies were strong, lightweight, and rattle-free.

The Pierce-Arrow automobiles were popular with movie stars such as Tom Mix, Mary Pickford, and Gloria Swanson. Many prominent figures of the era were driven in Pierce-Arrows, including every President of the United States, from William Howard Taft to Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

Using their extensive network of bicycle dealers, Pierce-Arrow distribution reached all over the United States. Their success led to the construction of a large, integrated factory in Buffalo, NY, that covered 1.5 million square feet on the site of the 1901 Pan-American Exposition. These facilities, however, were (perhaps) too large as the company never built automobiles in large quantities, and it took until 1912 before it built its 12,000th car. Instead, they focused on quality and perfection, with their vehicles being powerful, quiet, and trouble-free from the moment they left the factory.

Pierce-Arrow holds the distinction of being the first company to market a six-cylinder luxury automobile. In 1907, they introduced their first six-cylinder automobile, the Series Q Great Arrow. Beneath the lengthy bonnet was a T-head six-cylinder engine displacing 648 cubic inches and delivering 60 (ALAM rating) horsepower. The Series QQ followed in 1909, with its 453 cubic-inch T-head six having 48.6 horsepower (ALAM racing). A smaller six, the Series SS, was rated at 37 horsepower.

In 1909, the company was reorganized and the bicycle business split from the automobile business, which was now known as the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company. Having built a successful empire, George N. Pierce resigned and management was entrusted to Col. Charles Clifton who had been its Treasurer for years.

The 1910 Pierce-Arrow Models
The 1910 Pierce-Arrow model lineup included the Model 36, the Model 48, and the Model 66. All three were equipped with six-cylinder engines, with their model name representing the engine's output. The Model 36 rested on a 125-inch wheelbase, the Model 48 on a 134.5-inch wheelbase platform, and the Model 66 on a 140-inch wheelbase. All three were offered with a variety of body styles but each included a runabout built on a shorter platform. The Model 36 Runabout had a 119-inch wheelbase, the Model 48 Runabout on a 128-inch wheelbase, and the Model 66 Runabout on a 133.5-inch wheelbase.

The 1910 Pierce-Arrow Model 36 was priced from $3,850 to $5,000; the prices of the Model 48 ranged from $4,850 to $6,200, and the range-topping Model 66 listed for $5,850 to $7,200.

Total 1910 Pierce-Arrow automobile production was approximately 1,918 vehicles, a healthy increase over the 1,566 examples built the previous year.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2023