What is a 1933 Pierce Arrow Silver Arrow Worth
Pierce-Arrow made some of America's most magnificent cars. Demand for these cars often exceeded production. With sleek styling, ample room, electric headlights, self starters and all the luxury items designers could come up with, Pierce-Arrows were a symbol of status.In 1904 a Great Arrow, one of the first of the Arrow models, won the Glidden Tour, a test which established the running ability and reliability of the Arrow vehicles.
Although Pierce-Arrow had many impressive vehicles in its 1901 to 1938 history, none was more startling than the streamlined 1933 Silver Arrow.
Billed as a car of the future, the stunning 1933 Silver Arrow was a smash hit at the 1933 New York Automobile Show and the 1933 Chicago Century of Progress exhibition. Pierce Arrow was struggling to survive the great Depression and the Silver Arrow was going to be the car that would save them. Designed and built exclusively for the Chicago World's Fair, the Silver Arrow was a uniquely luxurious vehicle so modern that no other car came close.Plans for the car began with stylist Phil Wright who was working in the General Motor's Art and Color Section. Wright had approached several auto makers with his advanced design, but no one was interested. When Pierce-Arrow saw Wright's designs, they knew this was the car they wanted. It took a crew of 30 to build five Silver Arrows in just three months.
Powered by a 175 horsepower V-12, the Silver Arrow featured recessed door handles, a solid steel roof, integrated signature Pierce-Arrow headlamps and tapered front fenders, concealed running boards, side mounted concealed spare tires, and a tapered back and a small split rear window. All this made the Silver Arrow the top of the line luxury vehicle of its time.Only five Silver Arrows were ever built. Priced at $10,000 each, no one could afford such a vehicle. The car designed to save Pierce-Arrow eventually lead to its bankruptcy. Three of these grand vehicles still exist today.
Although Pierce-Arrow made a number of models named the Silver Arrow in 1934, they resembled the standard Pierce-Arrow vehicle and incorporated only a few aspects of the revolutionary 1933 model.
Silver Arrow Facts and Figures -
Year: 1933 Cylinders: 12Model: Silver Arrow Bore: 3 1/2Wheelbase: 139 Stroke: 4Weight: 5,729 Horsepower: 175Production: 5 List Price: $10,000Approximate value today: $550,000
