Pierce-Arrow models

Pierce-Arrow was an American maker of luxury cars from Buffalo, New York. The business started in 1865 as Heinz, Pierce and Munschauer, a maker of gilded birdcages; George N. Pierce bought out his partners in 1872 and added bicycles in 1896. It built its first car, the single-cylinder Motorette, in 1901.

The Arrow model of 1903 gave the company its later name, and in 1908 it became the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company. A Great Arrow driven by Percy Pierce won the 1905 Glidden Tour, and from 1914 Pierce-Arrow cars were recognisable by their headlights mounted in the front wings. With Packard and Peerless the brand was one of the "Three Ps" of American luxury cars. Studebaker gained control in 1928 for about five years. In 1933 Pierce-Arrow showed the streamlined Pierce-Arrow Silver Arrow, of which five were sold at 10,000 dollars each. The company declared insolvency and closed in 1938. See also Packard and Studebaker.