The Archer

In the early years of the 20th century, America’s finest luxury cars were known as “The Three P’s” – Packard, Peerless, and Pierce-Arrow. Packard barely survived the great depression by the addition of mid-priced models that, ultimately, helped contribute to that marque’s demise. Reading the economic tea leaves, Peerless decided to exit the car business after 1931. But Pierce-Arrow continued offering the large, grand vehicles it was known for right up until ceasing operations in 1938 – by which time it was making only a handful of cars a year in its Albert Kahn-designed, Buffalo, N.Y. factory. Pierce’s unmistakable Archer mascot is seen here perched atop a 1934 example.