Reply To: 1931 Series 43 Passenger Heater

[Luke Dwyer]

I’ve been a little puzzled over this matter.

I am shopping for a Pierce at the moment. My first, actually.

I’ve been looking at 5 cars from the 30’s. Two Twelves, two Eights. Four of them closed cars — Sedans.

Not a one has a heater. I don’t expect the open car to have, but Sedans?

I am somewhat astounded that being the highest quality cars of the era, and in the early to mid 1930’s, it was not standard for cars to have heater. And I’m sure that not all of these cars were sold in southern California.

Did no owner back in the day place value on comfort when driving or being driven?

Were people just so tough back then that even those who appreciated fine motoring didn’t give a second thought to heat?

Were these cars simply put up on blocks for the duration of winter?

Or was the technology just not there as late as 1935?

My Packard did not have a heater but I added one — an Arvin — and that makes ALL the difference in driving in the cooler season. Even California has chilly days, don’t they?

— Luke