It was another great show at Amelia Island this year. There were several great Pierce Arrow cars on the field, as well as one fake. It’s a shame that the modified cars make it on to the field of a world class show. It brings down all the real cars that are in the hands of true collectors. Here is a photo of a PAS members 1934 one off convertible sedan. Just finished days before the meet. It looked great. A true 100 point authentic automobile. I think the Amelia show is the best show I have ever attended.
Ed, that ‘s a beautiful ’34 Convertible sedan. ‘One Off’,: who was the coach builder? Any records to provide provenance that it isn’t a later conversion. With all your recent posts about fakes, it raises concerns about any really special open car.
As for the Amelia Island show, it is a flashy show, but is spoiled for me and many purists, when cars with lots of ‘PRETTY’ get awards when wonderful 100pt cars like your pictured ’34 Pierce do not, at least you did not mention that it took an award.
I believe a modified L-29 Cord took best of show? Again, that bothers me.
Also, when a 100pt car is trumped by a modified car, then the show is now a ‘cruise night’ affair, or a hot rod show, not a true Concours.
Sour Grapes I know, but at least at Pebble, the judges DO judge cars based on authenticity, not purely on how ‘PRETTY’ they are..
Grumpy Greg Long
Hi Greg. Yes, it’s a real car. A leftover 33 body installed in 34. A true 100 point car that was just finished last week. It did not take any awards. The class was filled with lots of great cars. We didnt have a car entered this year, but I took inventory of the awards given to the CCCA cars and I think the results were fair. A closed car won the class over a 90 percent open field. The fake car thing is getting out of hand. I recommend every one with an open car make a folder on it with history, photos, eat and keep it with the car as they change hands. I am sure the guy with the fake Pierce didn’t know it. Wait till he goes to sell……..then again I am sure a selling point is the car was at both Pebble and Amelia. We were beat by the fake two weeks earlier at a MAJOR show, even after I brought it to their attention. We will no longer attend that show. Their loss as we were going to attend every year with a world class car. I’m starting a fake and modified car list, buy due to liability issues I will keep it to myself. It going to have at least 10 cars on it to start off. BUYER BEWARE!
Wonderful to see a 100 point,100% genuine car recently restored with color equally 100% in period!!Beautifully restrained understatement. The height of 1930’s quiet good taste of the typical Pierce-Arrow purchaser. NOT an eye burner “Hollywood Look at Me”” color. VERY rare in this day & age of the need for constant attention getting. I realize that you could have ANY color you wanted BUT we need to take into consideration what was in period for the majority of buyers. The “”Hollywood types”” surely were in the minority. At modern meets it would seem that they far outnumbered everyone else. Cheers—Jak.”
Jak, I plead guilty to a loud color on my car. Fred Tycher took five years to forgive me on my color choice. Im still ok with it more than 20 years later. I agree the car above is very tastefull and correct for the era. It was my first comment to both the owner and restorer. Its one of the best restorations I have seen on a Pierce in the past 10 years. I like to paint a car in a color that fits its lines and over all design. I also like my cars to set themselves off. Black or very dark blue are most correct but have been done hundreds of times. My best, Ed.
My ’31 phaeton was originally green body, khaki fenders, green interior. Original, but I hated the color scheme.
I remember once on a tour in Texas with Fred Tycher, he looked at the car (still green and khaki) and said “That’s a very correct Pierce color scheme, not attractive, but correct”. When I had my engine fire and decided to freshen up the 1960 restoration, color change was the first thing on my mind.
I also agree that the car shown is not only a great body style, but very tastefully done….nice, nice….
Hi Ed,
Do you have any additional photos of this car that you can post?
Many of would like to see this newly restored ’34 in closer detail.
See you in Buffalo, Stu
Sorry Stu. I didnt get any others.
Ed,
Please post any or all other photos of the show you have. Im sure everyone would love to see them.
Rick
Only other photos I took were two cars I was intrested in for a friend. Both of them were driven around the island. The Chrysler drove great, the J was terrible. To be honest, neither went as well as a good Pierce set up right. The J brakes were terrible, engine was way down on power. They sure did draw lots of looks. I had driven both of these cars 20 years ago when they were in a local collection.
Chrysler.
I believe that the story is that the late, great Leo Parnagian’s Father-in-law was a collector and had Duesenberg cars and that Joan, Leo’s wife, drove them but hated driving a TRUCK, which is why Leo started in with Pierce-Arrow cars.
They reported that the Pierce-Arrow cars drove like a dream compared to the Duesenberg cars.
However, I understand that the Duesenberg cars are great for drag-racing.
Ed,
Thank you for the extra pics. Allways nice to look at the lesser cars of the Pierce.