Lot 257

The Charlie Thomas Collection

1931 Pierce-Arrow Model 43 Roadster

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$110,000 USD | Sold

United States | Grapevine, Texas

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Chassis No.
100166

125 bhp, 365.6 cu. in. L-head inline eight-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission, solid front axle and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel mechanical brakes. Wheelbase: 134 in.

This Model 43 Pierce-Arrow Roadster was purchased new by Wilbert Lee “Pappy” O’Daniel, a Texas songwriter and bandleader who helped make Western swing music popular. His Light Crust Doughboys performed on a noontime radio show, and he later became a populist politician, elected Texas Governor in 1938 and to the U.S. Senate in 1941, the only person to ever defeat Lyndon Johnson at the ballot box. The 2001 film O Brother, Whereart Thou? is loosely based on his life.

The car was professionally restored in 1988, with a frame-off renovation. It recently underwent a complete freshening and detailing. Its paint, chrome, leather, glass, and Hartz cloth top are all like new, and the drivetrain has been rebuilt to factory standards. It runs whisper-quiet and is tight and smooth to drive. A fine example of the surviving “Three Ps” luxury cars, it will be a welcome addition to any collection.