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I think the first thing you should do is inventory what you have, and what is missing.

From that inventory, research what is available in reproduction parts. If you can buy hubcaps, door handles, hood latch handles, and so forth in nice reproductions, you’ll be money ahead in the long run.

Then, as Ed states, you need to decide whether you want (as one plating shop owner explained to me) “factory” chrome or “show” chrome. For example, the radiator shell in factory chrome is very nice, but may show some very slight manufacturing ripples. Show chrome eliminates that. When I did the shell for my ’31 phaeton about 10 years ago, the difference was $500 and $1200 for the shell alone.

I would have said $25K to $30K for chrome on that car, but Ed has done more things recently so I’d trust his numbers.

That’s a great car you have, but resign yourself now to the fact that you’ll have more cost in the purchase/restoration than the car will be worth. With a professional restoration and the current cost chrome, paint, upholstery, and labor, if you’d been given the car free you might still end up in the same situation. Passion for owning such a car often transcends the dollars, of course….

Best of luck with the car, it’ll be a beauty when done….

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I agree, Ed, car is better looking without a trunk…but a place to carry a water container, gas can,fire extinguishers….sure comes in handy…and I think the looks are OK with the trunk tight to the body

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Oh, and by the way, the mounting for my rack is not factory, the original mounting sticks it behind this bumper, and in fact I think there may have been accessory bumpers that extended further back. I made a couple of brackets for the front mounts and sucked the rack in closer to the body, keeping the back of it within the standard bumper limits. I personally like the look of it where it is now. But, it is not original.

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The nameplate, a little far gone but readable….

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The trunk on my car is a Steel Kraft, I’ll attach a couple of pictures. While it didn’t come with the car, I’ve been told this is a brand of trunk Pierce used. I was at White Post Restorations one day when a phone call came in, Billy Thompson asked if anyone wanted a car trunk, a lady had called from Winchester and had taken one out of her attic. I went and looked at trunk and gladly gave the $100 asking price. I was amazed when it was a perfect fit to my 31 trunk rack, and when I say perfect, I mean it’s within 1/4 inch or so all the way around…

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I figured it was 1920 or so, thanks for the information…I realize the flashier newer ones are worth more…but think the earlier ones are harder to find, another case where rare does not mean valuable. Somewhere I think I have a print ad for this pedal car, but don’t remember the maker either…

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another picture

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So, while we have the experts assembled on pedal cars, what’s this one worth? I bought it at a local auction quite a few years ago….

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Running board box an add on, not from the factory. I’m not sure what you mean by luggage gates. If you’re talking about a luggage rack, that came from the factory and the customer would add a trunk. If you’re talking about the accordion style “gate” that clamps to a running board, that was a common accessory sold after-market, not a factory option. It’s not usually seen on a Classic car such as the Pierce.

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I agree… I just bought an instrument panel, white face with gas/speedo/amp and oil, but again, clock missing….guess people took them out and used them in the house??

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Nice website…but, as is oft said, a customer could request different color schemes, and I’d say even factory “standard” colors aren’t written in stone..my ’31 phaeton was originally dark green body, light brown fenders and mouldings..I have a picture taken in 1959 of the car in original paint and that was it….one thing is fairly constant, I would think, for Pierce colors, they were tasteful and usually subdued..if someone requested a garish paint job, I believe that Pierce management would have tried to talk them out of it….but of course, money talked just as loud then as it does now..

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Here’s the picture of the badges, real or repop?

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The Lorraine spotlight on my 1931 phaeton has no badge, but rather is engraved…see picture…I’ll also post pictures of badges in my collection, I believe they’re repop, showing Pierce…I’m fairly positive my spotlight is original to my car…any thoughts on the badges?

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I agree, guess sometimes a dealer with money ready to go is more tempting than marketing it to hobbyists. I do miss the old days when there were less dealers, and most of them even then were trying to save cars, not make a living or killing off them. This seems like a nice car, bet it was a good buy at the price paid by dealer!

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OK, thanks for info!

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Very cool, think he took drawing lessons from Picasso!!

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I’m not interested in the car, and agree wouldn’t buy from such a dealer without a personal inspection. Was just curious about the manifolds and/or engine itself.

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Still has to be a rare piece of paper, Walt….I have a fairly good collection of Pierce internal paper forms, and have never heard of this one…..

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Has anyone on this forum ever actually received a set of these? I talked to this guy two years ago, and it was the same story then, “sold out, send me deposit and I’ll deliver in a few months when production resumes”….I’d buy a set in a heartbeat if I knew I’d get them…

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Greg, you need to find me a Yard Expander, my back yard isn’t big enough!

I am going to be working on a new Region for this (and surrounding) area, so a meet could be a possibility! I do know of some interesting places that could be visited in the surrounding area, filling up touring days would be no problem!

Your PAl, David Coco

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