Topic: SOLVED: WTH # 290 - 1933 Pierce-Arrow V12 Speedster by David Kouri

[sixtee5cuda]

For one point, name the constructor of this car, along with the year, make, and model of car it was based upon.

[sixtee5cuda]

Does this help?

[sixtee5cuda]

Movin' on up!

Surely the Professionals have some idea about this car?

[Craig Gillingham]

It's based on a 1933 Pierce Arrow V12. It was customised by David Kouri. It's known as the Kouri V-12 Speedster.

[sixtee5cuda]

LOCKED for Craig Gillingham.

Entirely correct.  For your point, specify the model name or number of the Pierce-Arrow it was based upon.

[Craig Gillingham]

I found out that it has a 147in wheel base, I think this makes it a model 1247.

[sixtee5cuda]

Not sure about that wheelbase, but the sign in front of the car while it was at Harrah's, indicated a different model #.  A terrible model number.

[Craig Gillingham]

I'll have to pass, I'm away from home and haven't got access to my books for reference.

[fyreline]

In 1933, the 12-cylinder Pierce-Arrow cars were given model numbers starting with "12" and ending with their wheelbase, such as 1236, 1242, etc.  IF this car is, in fact, based on a 1933 Pierce-Arrow V12 it would be (judging by the extreme wheelbase) a model 1247 as Craig stated.

Bear in mind that not all of the signs in front of the cars in the Harrah Collection were always 100% correct. I recall a visit there in 1976 where I noted more than one error. In the case of one-off cars that were called whatever the builder wanted to call them, the answer could be anything. . . . But in the case of a Pierce-Arrow, the factory model designations are well-known and well-documented. Most sources say that David Kouri's "speedster" is based on a 1933 Pierce-Arrow V-12. That makes the original Pierce model number of the car it was based on pretty easy to determine, and it looked like that was what you were asking for. As a 1933 Pierce-Arrow 12, it HAD to be "Model 12XX". Maybe it isn't a 1933 after all? Curious.

[sixtee5cuda]

The Harrah's image indicates the car was based upon a model 1234 Pierce-Arrow, the Silver Arrow (5 built).

Auction information from 1999 indicates a chassis number of 360003, which would most probably be the engine number.  360003 would also indicate a Silver Arrow, the series started at 360001.    If it does in fact have a 147 inch wheelbase, then model 1247 would be correct.  So, it is probably a 1247 chassis, with a Silver Arrow engine.

I will call the puzzle solved, and have given Craig Gillingham a point.

[fyreline]

Very diplomatic, and a good solution. Marc Ralston's excellent Pierce-Arrow history (1980) confirms that one of the five original Silver Arrow show cars was "re-bodied as a roadster and became part of Harrah's Automobile Collection". There was no Model 1234 Pierce-Arrow in 1933 (one of those signage errors I alluded to), the five Silver Arrow show cars were all built on the standard 139" chassis, Model No. 1236 (later called 1239 to accurately reflect the wheelbase) . . . But if the Kouri Speedster has a 139-inch chassis, I'm a striped bandicoot. There's a monster wheelbase under this beast, and the largest "standard" Pierce-Arrow units were either 142 or 147 inches (models 1242 & 1247 respectively). In any case, at the very least an interesting car which I do remember from my 1976 visit to Harrah's collection. It was even more impressive in person.

[Craig Gillingham]

Thank you for the point. I wasn't aware of the Silver Arrow connection, and I see what you mean about the model number 1234, very unexciting.

[Paul Jaray]

Is there any pic of this car?

[sixtee5cuda]

I have one additional picture:

[Paul Jaray]

Grazie!