Museo Stradale

Dominic's Auto Museum
One man's passionate quest to survey finest motorcars in the world

Photographed: Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance, 2007. Owner: Martin Bullock

Pictorial Context: We're starting with the visuals and, to begin with, note how this Sport Phaeton compares to our particular Model 133 C Custom Sedan in terms of the period quality of their respective design cues. On the whole, the Sport Phaeton appears to be a later car, whereas the Custom Sedan stills keeps a few wheels in the antique era. Over and again we've mentioned how Pierce-Arrow geared themselves toward tradition, a staunch ethos that placed them behind the curve as new movements defined the auto industry in North America and in Europe. As to that trend of avoiding trends, the Sport Phaeton is perhaps the most lean, modern design the company conjured up for the new era.

This swing towards mediocrity (to be blunt) was spurred on by Studebaker, and at least in the short term it was a successful move, although it made these partnered companies somewhat redundant. In the end, of course, Pierce-Arrow lost out.

Morphology: Thanks to the cabriolet hood, the Sport Phaeton appears lower and longer than the Sedan, though the wheelbase is equal length. More important, however, is that the windscreen is pitched at a slight angle, whereas the Sedan bears a vertical screen, quite the antique vestige. The skirt design is identical between the cars but, again, where the car remains lower the lines are extended by a trick of the eye, appreciably fitting into the emerging elegance of the classic era. The last big improvement is a new wheel design. More robust wire wheels of smaller diameter were replacing wooden artillery wheels across the industry. Pierce-Arrow were something of a motoring prude of a company for offering the latter on classic era cars, but did have a few other options. This particular pattern with its large wheel caps and pinstripe matched paint was a good pairing for the Sport Phaeton, and can also be seen on a complimentary example from Automobile Quarterly.

It's also important to address the trim quality on the Phaeton. Pierce-Arrow used a Raymond Dietrich type design, piped on thick like layer cake icing and pinstriped for enhanced definition against typically contrasting dark colors. On the sedan, this trim becomes a frame of relief for the cabin, whereas on the Phaeton the trim is mirrored along the beltline. At the tail this creates an elegant turn of body, and the trim wraps down and back into the rear wheel skirts, framing the flank rather than the cabin. A thin line of exposed body panel runs above the trim along the beltline; this defines the linear passenger compartment and helps the bulkhead trim under the windscreen to pop moreso than if the trim were consumed by a dark clutter of windows and doors.

Further, the livery is updated. Better than the somber teal and black of the Custom Sedan—which is handsome, if a bit aged—we have a bright sea-foam green as a base on the body panels. Black trim provides ample contrast, striped with a nice goldenrod hue that's matched on the wire wheels. The tan top, wooden braces, and covered trunk add color, somewhat excusing the otherwise rudimentary brightwork. Nevertheless, there's lots to talk about with this Sport Phaeton; that's saying more than is customary for later Pierce-Arrow production cars. Not surprisingly, these options would have placed this car at the very top of the 133 model range.

What price style, that Cadillac could equal the presence of such a creation in hardly any trim, and place a V-8 or V-12 under the bonnet, (notwithstanding the somewhat superfluous V-16, whose raison d'etre was beyond the ambitions of Pierce-Arrow). Ultimately the 133 was a popular car, but not more popular than its counterparts. Cadillac were no slouch for quality, though they were not quite Pierce-Arrow. But, then, was a Pierce-Arrow worth the cost? From year to year more Americans decided the answer was no.

Sources:

The Pierce-Arrow Society: The Record Breaking Years (this refers to robust engineering accomplishments, and unfortunately not commercial succes)

Automobile Quarterly's World of Cars, Automobile Quarterly, Inc., New York, New York, 1971, Pierce-Arrow: The American Aristocrat, page 213; adapted from the edition of the same name by Maurice D. Hendry

Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance: In 2007, the concours featured Pierce-Arrow, with a particularly lovely selection of veteran cars, representing the company's strongest days.

 

Back to Index