Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 243
1911 Pierce-Arrow Model 48 Suburban Coachwork by Kimball Engine no. 8488
Sold for US$207,200 inc. premium
Lot 243
Property from the Collection of Don C. Boulton
1911 Pierce-Arrow Model 48 Suburban Coachwork by Kimball
1911 Pierce-Arrow Model 48 Suburban
Coachwork by Kimball
Engine no. 8488
Coachwork by Kimball
Engine no. 8488
524.8ci T-Head Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
48bhp
4-Speed Selective Sliding-Gear Manual Transmission
Front and Rear Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs with Live Rear Axle
Rear-Wheel Drum Brakes
*Offered from the Don C. Boulton Collection
*Exceptionally unmolested big-horsepower Pierce of the Brass Era
*Largely original and unrestored; remarkably well-preserved
*Rare surviving example of American custom formal coachwork
*Lovely, ornate interior
*A potential Preservation Class stand-out
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
Don C. Boulton's powerful Pierce-Arrow Model 48 was custom-bodied by the C.P. Kimball Company of Chicago, one of the Midwest's most noted coachbuilders of the Brass Era, as this particularly lavish and imposing formal limousine, or, in Pierce parlance, a Suburban. Interestingly, given its Chicago coachwork, it seems to have been delivered by I.C. Kirkham, of 1060 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, and spent most of its life in New York State; a 1958-59 registration sticker is still on the windshield, and it was included in the 1961 Antique Automobile Club of America roster with Walter H. Church of Plattsburgh. Mr. Church exhibited the car in his museum at Ausable Chasm, near the Canadian border; among the history file is a sign from the museum, in both French and English.
The car was eventually acquired from the Ausable Chasm museum by an owner in Massachusetts, who sold it in the early 1980s to Dr. Robert Krough of Newport Beach, California, a longtime Pierce-Arrow enthusiast. Dr. Krough reconditioned the car into running and driving condition, but, while impressed by its originality, he favored his open examples, and soon passed it to the well-known Pierce collector and historian, Patrick Craig. It was from Mr. Craig that Don C. Boulton acquired the Suburban, in 1988, beginning thirty years of ownership.
Inspection shows that the car remains almost completely original; if the dark green and black lacquer finish is not original, it is old enough that it may as well be, while the interior is almost completely untouched. The Rushmore 1019 headlamps and Solar side lamps are still in place, but the car is missing what may have been a lamp on the cowl, and does not have matching hood hardware. A Selden plate is fitted in place of the data tag. It is, however, still fitted with many other, hard-to-find original components, such as the correct Pierce-Arrow carburetors, and has a discreetly mounted starter motor.
Any Pierce '48' is a tremendous, special automobile, but to find one in such original condition, with a pristine custom body by one of this country's finest coachbuilders, is a wonderful rarity. This car awaits display in the Preservation Class at the concours of its next owner's choice.
Saleroom notices
Please note, this vehicle is titled under chassis no. 8488ARROW
Additional information
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