Pierce-Arrow was a luxury car maker based in Buffalo, New York, that built some of America’s finest cars from 1901 to 1938. Along with Packard and Peerless, it was one of the “Three P’s” of American luxury. Pierce-Arrow cars won the prestigious Glidden Tour reliability contests, served in the White House fleet, and were instantly recognizable by their headlights mounted in the front fenders — a patented design. The company was overwhelmed by the Great Depression and closed in 1938.

At a glance
Based in Buffalo, New York
Years 1901–1938
Famous feature Headlights in the fenders (from 1913)
Notable Glidden Tour wins; White House cars
Parent Studebaker, 1928–1933

From birdcages to motorcars

The George N. Pierce Company made birdcages, iceboxes and bicycles before building its first cars in 1901. The Great Arrow of 1904 established its reputation for quality, and the company became Pierce-Arrow.

Glidden Tour champions

The Glidden Tours were long-distance reliability runs in the early 1900s. Pierce-Arrow won several in a row, proving the durability of its cars when reliability was the biggest selling point.

Fender headlights

From 1913, Pierce-Arrows carried their headlights on top of the front fenders rather than beside the radiator — a design by Herbert Dawley that Pierce-Arrow patented. It became the brand’s trademark.

Presidents and celebrities

The first official White House cars included Pierce-Arrows, and they served several presidents. Movie stars and business leaders also favored them.

The Silver Arrow

In 1933, Pierce-Arrow unveiled the Silver Arrow, a streamlined show car that looked years ahead of its time. Only five were built, and it remains a design landmark.

Decline

After a merger with Studebaker in 1928, Pierce-Arrow gained resources but was damaged when Studebaker went into receivership in 1933. Independent again, it could not survive the Depression, closing in 1938.

New York’s automotive heritage

Buffalo was once a major car-making city. Read more about the region’s motoring history in the New York Auto Show history and see classics at car museums near NYC.