Offered by the Vault Classic Cars, Fullerton, California , 714-401-1047, is this spectacular 1927 Pierce-Arrow Series 36 Enclosed Drive Limousine – the top of the line car for Pierce-Arrow in 1927 ! And this particular car is a beautifully and authentically restored one, with substantial trophy history!
.Pebble Beach 2011, 3’d in Class
Pierce-Arrow Society Best in Class 2013
Best in Class 2011 Del Mar Concours
Second in Class 2010 CCCA National Annual Meeting.
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The Series 36 was brought out by Pierce Arrow as an update to the previous series 33 in 1926 and was available in 1927 and 1928. It was the top of the Pierce Arrow line, far more expensive than the “economy” series 80. Although no accurate production figures are known, we estimate no more than 1,500 were produced in 1927 and another 500 in 1928. The 2010 Pierce Arrow Society Roster indicates only seven 1927 Enclosed Drive Limousines are registered. The Series 36 was available in seventeen styles, from the Coupe to the Limousine and ranged in price from $5,875 to $8,000 at a time when average homes were selling at around $3500 and a new Ford could be purchased for approximately $500. The Series 36 Pierce was powered by a 100hp dual valve “T” head straight six engine, three speed transmission and had a vacuum assist braking system. The Pierce automobile was known for its reliability as well as both its high quality and attention to detail. The Series 36 limousine had factory features such as gold plated bright work in the passenger’s compartment, wool broad cloth upholstery, an intercom system, a partition window, “his” and “hers” vanities, silk privacy window screens and mahogany window trim. The driver’s compartment sported an all leather interior including the driver’s bench seat, the headliner and kick panels, as well as a wood grained dash and nickel plated bright work.
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By 1927 Piece-Arrow had 4 wheel brakes. The series 36 was an incremental improvement over the previous year’s series 33.
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Beautifully finished in Russian Blue and black, with correct and tasteful grey pinstriping.
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This particular vehicle started its life with the Pickwick Stage Line. The Company soon merged with the Limited Imperial Valley Stage Line and provided service to southern California back in the 1910’s and 1920’s. The Pickwick Stage Line first used Ford vehicles but soon moved to utilizing Locomobiles and Pierce Arrow touring vehicles for hire. The passengers could either ride outside the vehicle, sitting on the tool box, or sit comfortably inside, depending on the fare paid. In 1928 The Pickwick Stage Line officially merged the transportation side of the company with Greyhound and formed the Greyhound Corporation that we know today.
The next legal owner that we could trace was Johnson Motor Company of Colton, Ca. They then sold the vehicle to Mr. Rex Parker of Colton CA. We have the original State of California registration certificates for 1952 and 1953 indicating that Mr. Parker was the registered owner of the vehicle. Mr. Parker owned the vehicle until 1965 when he sold it. During the time that Mr. Parker owned the vehicle it was used in the high desert in California. The car at that time was almost entirely complete and original, but had deteriorated cosmetically over the years, and needed to be restored.
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In October 1965 Mr. Parker sold the vehicle to Mr. Ernie Follis for the sum of $400 (I have the original receipt). In 1965 Mr. Follis was in the process of acquiring old vehicles, especially Pierce Arrows. Mr. Follis is well known in the Pierce Arrow community and is considered an expert on Pierce-Arrow restoration.
This car was acquired from Mr. Follis in 2005. During the life of his ownership, some 40 years, he had stored the car indoors, and had done enough work to assure that the engine started but did not do any restoration work. .
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This view gives a sense of the high quality of the paint and bodywork. The dark blue and black are especially revealing, and there is not an imperfection to be found! The motto of Mr. Follis and Mr. Harris during the restoration: ” If a thing is worth doing, it’s worth doing right!”.
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The steering box was removed and repaired, and the booster brake mechanism was no longer functional so it was removed and reconditioned. The running board material and molding was removed and replaced with the appropriate material. The brakes were overhauled and new pad material was installed. All of the glass had been broken out so the frames were removed, reconditioned and new safety glass installed. The Division window drive mechanism was reconditioned and new glass installed. The wiring had deteriorated and was all replaced with the appropriate period correct wiring. The intercom was reconditioned and reinstalled – and it works! The vacuum windshield wipers were removed, reconditioned and once again made functional. All of the instruments were removed, reconditioned and the dials repainted and the dash woodgraining was redone to match the original scheme. All of the bright work for the car was redone in either nickel or gold plating to match the original. The “his” and “her” vanities in the passenger’s compartment were remanufactured using the original clock and perfume bottles. The transmission was overhauled with all of the bearings replaced. The passenger compartment upholstery was redone using wool broad cloth patterned from the original. The driver’s compartment upholstery was redone using leather to the original pattern.
The iconic triple tail light was a well known indicator of the Pierce Arrow brand.
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Lets consider these tail lights again – they’re stamped “Pierce-Arrow”, and they’re black with Nickel plated bezels. All of the plating on this car is the correct Nickel. Except of course the rear interior fittings, which are done in the correct Gold plating!
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The Very lap of luxury in 1927 – Rich wool broadcloth, deep wool carpeting, and gold plated fittings! Fortunately, this car still had the remnants of the original interior which helped for patterns during restoration.
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This pattern was taken exactly from the original. Look at the beautiful work on this interior!
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A feature of the Enclosed Drive Limousine body style are the dual jumpseats for additional passengers.
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Here are the jumpseats retracted.
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The passenger vanity has a Pierce / Waltham clock, and perfume bottles, along with slim writing pads.
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The other passenger vanity has a cigarette lighter and ashtray. Feast your eyes on the gold plating !
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Let’s take a look at the driver’s compartment. The steering wheel is real hardwood, the dashboard is woodgrained sheetmetal, exactly as it was when the car was new.
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The Driver’s compartment is properly trimmed in leather.
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The Floorboards are correctly done in Linoleum.
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That is a spectacular dashboard !
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Wow!
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A very interesting windshield wiper mechanism , the Trico Visionall – it’s vacuum operated, and the wipers slide side to side across the windshield. It was restored and works properly!
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Demountable wood rims, with Nickel plated hubcap. Also note the front wheel brake drum!
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Let’s look at the detail of this giant Six Cylinder engine. 4 inch bore and 5.5 inch stroke makes 414 cubic inches!
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by the series 36, the cylinder block was cast as a single unit.
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Note the Pierce Carburetor and cast aluminum fan.
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Here’s the early version of the oil filter, the “Oil Rectifier”.
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The Pierce-Arrow oil can mounted to the firewall . It’s details like this that set a great restoration apart from the merely good ones.
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It’s beautiful underneath too!
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Attention to detail !
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Beautiful undercarriage – note the “PIERCE” stamped into the front axle forging towards the right of the photo.
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Here’s a photo of the headlight illuminated. Of course both of them work!
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The beauty of the step plate, and then the diamond-tread pattern of the runningboard reflected in the beautiful paint.
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The trademark Pierce-Arrow headlight in the fender.
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Pierce script Moto-Meter temperature gauge.
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The fender mounted vertical trunk that is located on the right hand running board is a very unique piece. The limousine, with the dual spare mounted in the rear of the car did not have a place for mounting a trunk to carry the various clothing items needed to accompany the passengers, so this unique and totally restored trunk was used.
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Here is the beautifully restored runningboard trunk, in leatherette and nickel fittings.
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Trunk interior, with wood hangers and beautiful inner liner.
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The fold-down box is additional storage .
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these are the clamps that hinge out and clamp the trunk to the runningboard. I have to admit being fascinated with this trunk, it’s a very interesting accessory!
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Heavily documented. 5 binders, including 2 As-Found photos, Restoration notes, Pierce-Arrow Parts catalog reproduction,, Operation and care manual reproduction, and 1 folio with restoration receipts.
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Restoration receipts, nicely organized.
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Summary of Vendors used in the restoration.
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More restoration summary
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Here are photos of the car prior to restoration – a good, sound, almost entirely complete car that just needed the efforts of 2 extremely talented owners and their network of professional subcontractors.
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a view during the painting process.
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Here are the Pebble Beach 2011 show field documents – this car won a Third place in it’s class, an impressive result against world class competition!
THERE IS NO COOLING OFF PERIOD UNLESS YOU OBTAIN A CONTRACT CANCELLATION OPTION. California law does not provide for a “cooling off” period for vehicle lease or purchase contracts. Therefore, you cannot later cancel such a contract simply because you change your mind, decide the vehicle costs too much, or wish you had acquired a different vehicle. After you sign a motor vehicle purchase or lease contract, it may only be cancelled with the agreement of the seller or lessor or for legal cause, such as fraud. However, California law does require the seller to offer a 2 day contract cancellation option on used vehicles with a purchase price of less than $40,000, subject to certain statutory conditions. See the vehicle contract cancellation option agreement for details.The prospective purchaser of a vehicle may, at his or her own expense and with the approval of the dealer, have the vehicle inspected by an independent third party either on or off the dealership premises. All Prices shown DO NOT include California Sales Tax, DMV fees, smog certificate on post-1975 vehicles, Documentation fees, and any late registration fees owed to DMV. Out of state customers are responsible to pay sales tax and any other government fees in their own state. All signed contract documentation must be received AND full payment received before the car will be released to the new owner.
Sold AS-IS, with NO WARRANTY. Delivery F.O.B. Fullerton, CA. Sold Mileage exempt, meaning it’s not possible to know the original mileage. We encourage you to either inspect the car yourself or enlist the services of an inspector. The car may have minor or major flaws that are not evident in the photos and description. Federally required “buyer’s guide”, marked AS-IS, NO WARRANTY is incorporated in this contract by reference.
VIN # 361028 Car is titled as a 1926, so the contract will state 1926 Pierce-Arrow.
We have shipped many cars overseas, and are always working with genuine international customers. Please call us during Pacific Daylight business hours for more information – 714-401-1047.