1920 Pierce-Arrow

This 1920 Pierce-Arrow is a Series 31 five-passenger touring car that was purchased by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation out of Springfield, Massachusetts in October 1961. The car was displayed at Tony Hulman’s Early Wheels Museum in Terre Haute, Indiana until the 1980s and subsequently incorporated into the IMS Museum collection. It was used in pre-race activities for the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix between 2002 and 2007, and has been stored in the museum’s climate-controlled facility for the past decade. The body is finished in burgundy and black with a tan soft top and interior, and power comes from a 414ci straight-six paired with a three-speed selective sliding-gear manual transmission. The fuel system was flushed, the carburetor cleaned, and the paint polished in preparation for the sale. This Model 38 is offered with tools, partial service records, and a clean Indiana title. Pierce-Arrow’s entry-level Model 38 was introduced in 1913 and listed for over $4k by the end of its model run in 1920. The Series 31 was added to the Model 38 lineup for the 1917 model year, featuring aluminum bodywork as well as several styling and mechanical updates. This example was painted in its current burgundy and black under previous ownership, and features running boards connecting fenders with integrated headlamps as well as a single brake light. The car was cleaned by IMS Museum staff using Sonax car care products in preparation for the sale. The car features a 132″ wheelbase and rides on body-colored wood-spoke wheels wearing 35×5 bias-ply rubber from Gehrig Tire Company. Two matching spare rims with covered tires are mounted on the passenger-side running board. Braking is handled by mechanically-operated rear drums. The chrome has rubbed off on the right side of the radiator shell and staining is noted on the tan soft top. The front cabin features bucket seats upholstered in tan leather along with matching door panels and burgundy carpeting. The wood-spoke steering wheel is positioned on the right, and the body-colored dashboard houses Delco switchgear, a clock and barrel-type Waltham speedometer, and additional gauges for amperage, oil pressure, and fuel level. Just under 10k miles are shown on the four-digit odometer, with the actual total unknown. Tears are noted on the front seats. The rear seating area is equipped with a bench trimmed in matching upholstery as well as a full-width footrest, locking cabinets in the backrests of the front seats, and lighting. The 414ci inline-six features detachable cylinder heads as well as two valves per cylinder, and was factory-rated at 38 horsepower. The carburetor was cleaned by IMS Museum staff in preparation for the sale, and draws from an external fuel tank that is said to have been repaired and repainted in 1987. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed selective sliding-gear manual transmission with reverse. The fuel system was flushed in preparation for the sale. A walkaround and drive video is viewable below. Located inside the famed 2.5-mile Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval, the IMS Museum is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that relies on the support of visitors, members, donors, and corporate partners to make possible their daily operations, exhibits, restoration and preservation initiatives, and educational programming. To learn more about the IMS Museum and the many ways you can show support, including their “Adopt-a-Car” program, please click here.