1911 Pierce-Arrow Model 48 7-Passenger Touring

1911 Pierce-Arrow Model 48 7-Passenger Touring

In 1913, the Pierce-Arrow Company patented the design of 'headlights faired into the tops of the front fenders.' This improved the effectiveness of the headlamps and was first seen on a Model 48-B2.

The Model 48 was available in two versions, the B and D. The D versions were equipped with a Disco acetylene self-starting system.

The Pierce-Arrow Model 48 was powered by a 515 cubic-inch, T-head, inline six-cylinder, side-valve engine that produced 48.6 calculated ALAM horsepower. Its cylinders were cast in three pairs and featured two vertical plugs per cylinder. Half of the plugs connected to a coil while the other six were connected to a magnet. A switch gave the driver the ability to select either or both. The engine did not have a hand crank; there was an air-starting device which used compressed air stored in a tank to operate a small piston engine geared to the flywheel. Once the engine was started, the driver would reverse the valve, and the air-engine became a pump which recharged the tank.

During the production lifespan of the Model 48B, a total of 825 examples were created, and each carried a price tag that ranged from $4,850 - $6,300 depending on body-style and coachwork. There were more examples of the Model 48B produced than their lower-priced companion car, the Model 38C, by 209 units.

The Model 48 rested on a platform that had a wheelbase that measured nearly 12 feet. Braking was mechanical system that took some force to operate. Wooden artillery style wheels were at all four corners and wooden running boards were on either side of the car. The instrumentation inside was rather bare. The two more important gauges were the mile-o-meter and the drum-action Warner speedometer.

The most popular body-style for the Model 48 was the Tourer which had a canvas top and had seating for around 7 individuals.

The Model 48 was a very stately and impressive car that had an awe-inspiring presence and a powerplant capable of carry the load. These were mechanical masterpieces and truly exception examples of the quality and caliber the Pierce-Arrow Company was capable of producing.

The car & other additional information

Pierce-Arrow was founded in 1865 in Buffalo, NY and manufactured everything from ice boxes, birdcages, bathtubs and bicycles. The first car was built in 1901 and in 1903, Pierce introduced the Arrow, a bigger car. This led to the Great Arrow with cast aluminum body panels on a 93 inch wheelbase and helped build Pierce's great reputation by winning the first five prestigious Glidden Tours.

Beginning in 1909, Pierce-Arrow earned a reputation as the car of Presidents when William H. Taft became the first President to use an automobile for official occasions. This trend would continue until the last Pierces were offered in 1935. In 1914, they introduced their patented integral fender headlamps as an option which became the most recognized design cue for Pierce-Arrows for the rest of the company's history.

By the early 1910s, the company was building six-cylinder models exclusively ranging from 36 to 66 horsepower. The Model 48 was the best-selling of the line and featured a cast aluminum body that is riveted together. The fenders are stamped aluminum. Power was from a 525 cubic-inch straight 6-cylinder engine that offered nearly 50 horsepower and was mounted to a frame that measured 134.5 inches. They had a four-speed sliding gear transmission and rear wheel brakes. There had two extra folding seats, an electric generator and starter, electric Klaxon horn, gas gauge, autometer, speedometer, rear footrest, rail blanket, electric lights, dual side-mounted spares, and a full set of tools as standard equipment.

In total, there were around 1,000 examples of the Model 48 produced, each selling for around $5,000.

By 1911, Pierce-Arrow's reputation for quality was well established. Based in Buffalo, New York, it worked with its neighbor, the Aluminum Company of America, to perfect the special techniques needed to cast aluminum body panels as thin as one-eighth inch, resulting in exceptionally strong, rattle-free and lightweight bodies. In the early days Pierce-Arrow's in-house chief designer, Herbert Dawley, styled all the bodies for the company.

The past owner of this Pierce-Arrow Model 48 has owned it for several decades. It has been given the highest quality of restoration and service work. It was previously owned by the late Dr. Leo Parnagian, past president of the National Pierce-Arrow Society and former chief judge. It was acquired by its current owners in 2017.

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