The esteemed Pierce-Arrow marque had a long and impressive history prior to 1932, having manufactured some of the greatest motor cars of the Brass and Classic Era. From its earliest cars, including the Great-Arrow as well as the 38, the 48 and the mighty Pierce 66, Pierce-Arrow was the choice of several U.S. Presidents as well as the elite of American society. In short, it was one of the premier American motor cars. Throughout the 1920s, the marque continued at the pinnacle of the American fine car market, along with Peerless and Packard, representing one of the legendary “Three Ps.”

The controversial merger of 1928 with Studebaker, driven by Pierce-Arrow’s acute need for cash to fund the development of new models, also provided the resources for a new and highly acclaimed eight-cylinder engine in 1929, finally breaking the marque’s long-standing reliance on six-cylinder power. However, as the infamous stock market crash and Great Depression loomed, Pierce-Arrow resolutely continued to focus on its luxury-car roots and its upscale, discerning clientele more than ever before.

Against a background of tradition and quality singular to Pierce-Arrow, the 1932 model was to reflect the day’s concept of all facets that could create distinguished motoring. Styled and engineered for the most influential groups, who had been approving of Pierce-Arrow for 30-years, the 1932 Pierce-Arrow was the finest of its kind and finished in a manner of finesse to convey the pinnacle of car value.

As described in a 1917 edition of The Pierce-Arrow Salesman and throughout the marque’s history, the company was staunchly committed to providing its customers with the best and the most desirable factory-built and custom coachwork, a tradition that proudly continued to the end of production in 1938. One of the most popular bodies designed for the Pierce-Arrow chassis was the Coupe Roadster, which combined the desirable open roadster confines with a beautifully rounded tail section that houses a rumbleseat to be able to accommodate two or four passengers on a spirited jaunt.

The Model 54 being offered represents an uncommon and desirable open body style finished in attractive colors, and is easily distinguished showing off its beautiful front end with fender-mounted headlights that Pierce-Arrow was so well-noted for. The engine bay reveals the large and virtually silent-running inline 366-cid, 125-hp eight-cylinder engine, which provides ample power, mated to a synchromesh manual transmission that offers very smooth shifts. The car is built on the 137-inch wheelbase and also features dual sidemounts with color-keyed covers and pedestal mirrors, wood-spoke artillery-style wheels, rear trunk rack with the associated leather-strapped box, singular driving light, attractive interior wood trim, rumbleseat, whitewall tires and free-standing parking lights on the fender tie-bar.

As a Full Classic, the Classic Car Club of America would be welcoming at show events and CARavans.