1913→1918 Pierce-Arrow Model 48
The Pierce 48 or 48HP was the longest-running model in the Pierce range and was produced from the 1909 Model 48-SS, throughout the war period and well into the 1920s with the ‘Dual Valve’ cars. 48Hp was the model’s NACC rating.
Beginning in 1913, the Model 48 had a stepwise series of upgrades that included the 48-B-1, 48-B-2, 48-B-3, 48-B-4 up the Series 5 48-B-1 of 1918.
The later cars used a new 6-cylinder design that was a six-cylinder, inline engine that cast cylinders in pairs. A highlight of the valvetrain included twin sets of exhaust and intake valves which is why the engine is sometimes reffered to as the ‘Dual Valve Six’. It offered 48 horsepower which sent power to the rear wheels through a cone-type clutch and four-speed manual transmission.
During it’s introduction, Pierce offered 14 different factory body styles on the 48 chassis. Most of the cars were delivered with Pierce’s fender-moulded headlights, but cars delivered in Pierce’s home state of New York we forced to used detachable units.
Story by Supercars.net
In Detail
| type | Series Production Car |
| production years | 1913 – 1918 |
| built at | Buffalo, New York, USA |
| engine | Inline-6 cast in pairs w/T-Head |
| position | Front, Longitudinal |
| aspiration | Natural |
| ignition | Bosch high-tension magneto |
| block material | Cast Iron |
| fuel feed | Pierce-Arrow Carburettor |
| bore | 114.3 mm / 4.5 in |
| stroke | 139.7 mm / 5.5 in |
| power | 35.8 kw / 48 bhp |
| redline | 2500 |
| body / frame | Body over Steel Chassis |
| driven wheels | RWD |
| wheel type | Wood Artillery |
| front tires | Goodrich Silvertown |
| rear tires | Goodrich Great Safety |
| front brakes | None |
| rear brakes | Drums |
| steering | Screw & Nut |
| f suspension | Solid I-Beam Axle |
| r suspension | Live Axle |
| wheelbase | 3606.8 mm / 142 in |
| transmission | 4-Speed Manual |
| tran clutch | Cone, leather faced |
| fuel capacity | 121.12 litres or 32 gal. |
Auction Sales History
1910 Pierce-Arrow Model 48-SS Demi-Tonneau 540 – sold for $852,500. The car is correct in all important respects, as it was reportedly restored from an excellent original car, with only its front fenders requiring correct replication. It is equipped with acetylene headlamps and an oil tail lamp, as well as a correct Pierce-Arrow muffler and electric self-starting system, and it has a wonderful charm and patina of age about it. Its brass trim and paint have a rich, deep shine, but the interior is lightly worn and beginning to crack around the edges, while the chassis has a well-used but tidy appearance. Overall, it appears as it is: an automobile that has been enjoyed on tours by its owners for decades and one that is ready for continued travels with the HCCA and VMCCA in events such as the Glidden Tour. Auction Source: Paul & Chris Andrews Collection by RM Sotheby’s
