In the 2014 Mecom auction in Anaheim, CA, this car was listed but then was withdrawn from the auction. Mecom has no information who the seller was since over three years has elapsed. The car ‘s auction description was as follows:
Trans
3-Speed
Color
Burgundy
Interior
Beige
VIN/Serial
156734
Highlights:
V-12 engine
3-speed transmission
Body-off restoration
New wood and wiring
New engine with 300 miles
New hydraulic shocks
New brakes and tires
Overdrive with top speed of 80 mph
Anyone know who owns this car? Sounds like a very nice one.
The serial number listed is not a good number. The serial number for a 1936 Model 1602 or 1603 should begin with”31″” and the engine number with “”40″”.”
The vehicle register could not help identify this car. While the VINs are 7 digit and the engine numbers are 6 digit, this does not seem to be a Pierce engine number as 156734 does not appear in any V-12 serial number ranges used from 1932-38.
It would appear I am at a dead end with respect to finding out if a PAS member knows anything regarding this car using the VIN. Wondering if anyone has seen a well restored burgundy ’36 Club Sedan at any meets or shows.
I just looked at the photos of the car on the Mecum auction site marked Airizona 2014. Nice color, nice interior, hard to tell condition just from photos. Underhood could use some details and sorting, but nothing earth shattering. What was the selling price? I have never seen the car in person or photos, although I own an identical car. It was my understanding the gentleman who restored it had an 8 and a 12, and sold the eight before the12 was finished if I remember correctly. Looks better in the burgundy than I thought it would. Interesting that who ever bought it isn’t know to club members. Strange auction to sell a Pierce 12 at.
I spoke to Bob Mecum (Mecum Auctions) and he said the car although listed did cross the block at the Anaheim auction for some reason and any reference to the seller who initially consigned it was no longer in their system as the auction occurred over 3 years ago. That’s why I thought someone at the PAS might know who had owned the car or it’s history.Perhaps the person who was restoring it is known and could be contacted to shed some light on the car’s whereabouts.
Sorry, It was Anaheim…….. another possibility is it’s known to a club member who is also trying to buy it, and thus no answer. A nicely finished twelve would normally not be too difficult to track.
Anyone have a contact at the California DMV or the State Police?
License number on car at the auction was California 2LDJ342.
From the website photos looks like a very nice car.
For DMV work here in California I have used Ellie Gage she does DMV paperwork and has helped me with Vehicle Identification in the past. She charges a reasonable Fee for what she does. Her phone number is 559-221-1241. Hope she can help you.
Good Luck,
Ken
I just spoke with Ellie and she will check with DMV to see if anything can be determined as to who owns the car. Thanks for the tip!
David’s Pierce Detective Service at your beck and call!
Interesting that it was a regular license plate, not a vintage or antique plate. Almost makes one wonder if it was temporarily put on the car to transport, and is actually registered to a newer car.
Hope your search is fruitful, or Pierceful…..
Jim,
Your welcome, glad I could help. Ellie has helped me several times.
Ken
It does seem a bit strange that the car doesn’t have an antique plate(s) although I have used regular issue plates until I could find one decent enough to put on a car. Here in Arizona you can register and use an old tag if it is appropriate to the year and type of vehicle (passenger car in this case). Also you must check and see if the tag has been “recycled”” which is DMV parlance for an old tag number which has been assigned to a new plate. Found a really nice 1947 commercial truck tag for my 1947 Dodge Power Wagon only to learn the number had been reassigned and was on a boat trailer tag!Fortunately the seller gave me my money back.”
I should have said the Ken/Ellie/David Pierce Detective Service!
Virginia has YOM, Year of Manufacture, plate laws too, and most years were pairs, which are required for YOM. The prices of nice Virginia license plate pairs has risen accordingly.
in Massachusetts, to register a car with YOM plates, the plates must be in ORIGINAL condition, which usually means weatherworn and rusty (two plates required).
However, a few people I know, certainly not me, registered their cars with the ORIGINAL condition YOM plates and then had the plates refinished.
Here in Michigan you can also register an original plate with your car. The plate can be either restored or in original condition….The nice thing about it is they are exempt from having to be renewed ever year.
Here is my California plate. This is an original 1925 plate that came with our Pierce Arrow. In order to use an original here is in CA you must get a release from the former owner. It doesn’t pass to you with the purchase of the car needs a bill of sale.
Ken
Peter…….if you know the system you can beat it……. I made four brand new modern plates and left two outside to be weathered. I picked my own numbers and even style of the font. The weathered pair were the correct color for the year. The other pair or painted to match the car. They approved the first pair, and I installed the second pair on the car. I was able to check to get a good set of numbers that were not in use on their website. Presto! I have a set of year of manufacture plates, with a very low number. Life is good ! I love beating the system. ðŸ‘
If memory serves, some years ago California like Oregon was proposing to use vintage or collector car license plates to identify car collections with an eye to taxing them. At the time, many collector switched to current year plates to avoid being taxed.
Ed,
WOW!
Peter