1932 Pierce-Arrow Model 54
Built in 137, 142 and 147 inch wheelbases, the 54 was Pierce-Arrow’s 1932 model. It used the company’s straight-eight engine which produced 125 bhp and continued the tradition of elegant and distinctive motor cars.
In Detail
submitted by | Richard Owen |
type | Series Production Car |
built at | Buffalo, New York, USA |
engine | Inline-8 |
position | Front, Longitudinal |
aspiration | Natural |
block material | Cast Iron |
displacement | 5998 cc / 366 in³ |
bore | 88.9 mm / 3.5 in |
stroke | 120.6 mm / 4.75 in |
power | 93.2 kw / 125 bhp |
specific output | 20.84 bhp per litre |
body / frame | Body over Steel Chassis |
driven wheels | RWD |
front brakes | Mechincal Drums |
rear brakes | Mechincal Drums |
f suspension | Solid Axle w/Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs |
r suspension | Live Axle w/Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs |
wheelbase | 3479.8 mm / 137 in |
Auction Sales History
1932 Pierce-Arrow Model 54 LeBaron Convertible Sedan 231676 – sold for $143,000 Beautiful Open Coachwork by LeBaron. Characteristic Pierce-Arrow Luxury. Recent Mechanical Freshening by Stephen Babinsky. Optimally Preserved Restoration. Auction Source: The 2013 Scottsdale Auctions by Gooding & Company
1932 Pierce-Arrow Model 54 Club Brougham – sold for $57,200. At a cost of just over $3,000 when new, the eight-cylinder Model 54 Club Brougham remains a great example of Pierce-Arrow’s characteristic engineering and stylistic excellence. The history of this vehicle indicates that it has always been well-maintained, and it was restored to a very high standard during the mid-1980s by a Mr. Petri, of Buffalo, New York.
Additionally, the correct wool broadcloth interior was fitted by the well-known firm of Mosher Interiors, of New York. The next owner acquired the Pierce in 1992 and retained it until the summer of 2006, when it was purchased by the current owner, who is a member of the Pierce-Arrow Society. Properly maintained, recently serviced, smooth-running, and tour-capable, this stately yet sporty example, with the distinctive Dawley headlights, also benefits from proper climate-controlled storage, and it will, without a doubt, provide a wonderful entry to any classic show.
1932 Pierce-Arrow Model 54 Convertible Sedan – did not sell for $88,000. At a cost of just over $3,400 in the trough of the painful Great Depression years, very few individuals could afford to enjoy the many delights of this sporting LeBaron-bodied Pierce-Arrow Convertible Sedan. Prior to joining the respected private automobile collection where it currently resides, noted collectors Richard and Linda Kughn owned this example between 1986 and 2003. Records indicate that the prior owner, Mr. Ralph B. Gordon, is thought to have owned the Pierce from at least as early as 1972, when the state of Wisconsin issued a title to the car in his name. Auction Source: 2010 Vintage Cars of Meadow Book by RM Auctions.