Founded in Buffalo, New York, in 1878 by George N. Pierce, the George N. Pierce Company initially manufactured household goods such as birdcages and iceboxes. The firm quickly gained a reputation for quality and innovation. By 1895, it shifted focus to bicycles—a booming industry at the time.

Like several of their contemporaries, the bicycle boom led to a natural transition into motorized transport. Pierce began its initial foray into four-wheeled automobiles with a small steam car in 1890. Although the steamer proved troublesome, it led to experimentation with a quadracycle, before the Pierce Motorette automobile was developed in 1901. The first model to use the “Arrow” moniker came along for 1903 and positioned the engine up front. In relatively short order, Pierce-Arrow automobiles were considered among the finest cars built in America. In 1906 alone, Pierce built roughly 400 of the 28-32hp cars and another 300 of the highly exclusive 40-50 hp machines. Then, in 1909 Pierce introduced its first Model 48 and ushered in the era of the company’s longest running model. During its lengthy reign, the Model 48 was always powered by a big, powerful, T-Head six. Perhaps the most famous distinguishing feature was the way the headlamps were fared into the front fenders beginning in 1913, a design that was patented by them and remained a Pierce Arrow trademark throughout the existence of the firm.

Pierce-Arrow continually evolved and refined the Model 48 throughout its lengthy production run. This 1916 Model 48 features Pierce’s mighty 524 cubic-inch, 12-valve six with a 4.5-inch bore and a long 5.5-inch stroke. Although the 48 indicated the taxable horsepower rating, the engine actually produced in the area of 75 horsepower and a veritable ocean of torque. With the assistance of a high rear-end ratio and the four-speed transmission, the T-Head six would propel the large touring car to speeds of up to 55 miles per hour with ease.

The Model 48 was available in a wide variety of open and closed styles, and this example features the grand 7-Passenger Tourer body, which is beautifully built and impressively imposing in its scale. Pierce-Arrow bodies were made of cast aluminum, a skill the company acquired from its years manufacturing general goods. In fact, the company rarely employed outside coachbuilders.

According to prior owner and longtime Pierce-Arrow historian and connoisseur, Pat Craig, this powerful Model 48-B-4 was ordered new by Albert E. Swabacher Jr., who specified the seven-passenger touring body but without rear jump seats. A prominent San Francisco investment banker and civic leader, Mr. Swabacher spent his available free time at a dude ranch he owned in the Teton Mountains, and it was there that the Pierce-Arrow was kept, used for chauffeured hunting and fishing trips. Reportedly Mr. Swabacher would camp in a bed set up in the back of the car, hence the deletion of the jump seats, and had the horn mounted on the left side—as while he utilized a chauffeur to drive the car, the adventurous banker preferred to blast the car’s horn himself, alerting his staff that he had returned from yet another expedition into the wild.

The Pierce-Arrow remained in Mr. Swabacher’s ownership until his passing in 1963, then was sold to Roy Leiske, a collector in Wisconsin. Mr. Craig acquired the car from the Leiske family in 2008, becoming only its third owner. An exhaustive two-year restoration followed, in the subtle coach color of deep maroon, contrasted with natural rubber tires. The car was sold in 2013 to a respected collector, under whose care it continued to be sparingly shown and carefully preserved.

Finished in maroon, it is attractively accented with subtle grey coach lines on the body as well as on the artillery wheels. The paint is in excellent order throughout .The interior features gorgeous black button-tufted leather upholstery and brown carpeting, and lined black leather top. The car is equipped with a trunk as well as straps under the top, designed to carry the occupants’ hats—a thoughtful touch, then and now. Significantly, it retains such wonderful notes of authenticity as the original chassis number stamping on the center cross-member of the frame, and it is correctly finished throughout.

The restoration is extremely well preserved, with its interior and paint both in overall excellent condition and would still be well-suited to show with its next proud caretaker. This grand Pierce-Arrow is extremely well-sorted, runs strong and will be terrific for touring or for display in local, regional, and marque-centric shows.

Offers welcome and trades considered

$189,500

Stock number 7893