Signature 1:18 1933 Pierce Arrow Silver Arrow

The Silver Arrow was conceived by Phil Wright, a young designer at General Motors. When Depression-mandated layoffs at GM left Wright unemployed in 1932 he took his unfinished design to friend and former colleague Roy Faulkner. The two had collaborated earlier for E. L. Cord, and Faulkner, now a vice president of sales at Pierce Arrow, was quick to recognize the beauty and futuristic appeal of Wright’s concept. The design was refined and finalized and, with a dedicated crew working around the clock at Studebaker in Indiana, a hand-built show car was ready inside of two months, with a total of five eventually produced. This sleek, aerodynamically inspired masterpiece enthralled the public at both the 1933 New York Auto Show and Chicago World’s Fair. Many forward-looking features were incorporated into the car, from its rakishly angled grill to its dramatic fastback topped by a slender, v-shaped split rear window. The design was enhanced by body-integrated front fenders and headlights, hidden running boards, recessed door handles and skirted rear wheels. The car was powered by a 175 HP V12 engine capable of a top speed of 115 mph, and carried the princely selling price of $10,000. In 1934, as a more practical and affordable alternative, Pierce Arrow introduced a production “Silver Arrow” which preserved at least some of the show car’s sleek allure, offered a straight-eight engine option and carried a more realistic price tag of between $3500 and $3900. However it is the incomparable ’33 show car that stands as an icon. Many of the styling cues and design innovations found in the Silver Arrow took years to find their way into the automotive mainstream, certainly not in time to save the Depression-ravaged Pierce Arrow. But the car stands as one of the outstanding ‘30s designs and one of the great examples of the automobile-as-art.

This important release is possibly Signature’s finest model to date. While there are some shortcuts and omissions vis-à-vis some of their best recent replicas, probably necessary to produce such a unique and challenging subject at a reasonable price, they in no way compromise the sheer display excellence of the image.

It’s clear that Signature has been working hard toward a level of execution necessary to produce a satisfying replica of the Silver Arrow. And deeply satisfying it is, in most meaningful ways. In terms of proportion and refinement, the casting is excellent and the panel tolerances (including the one for the spare concealed in the front left fender) tight and true. The silver paint is nearly flawless…this is a difficult color to apply convincingly but Signature had previously shown that it’s equal to the challenge with the ‘37 Lincoln. The odd blemish aside, the light green trim and copious, intricate red pin striping are elegantly executed, too. All exterior chrome fittings are cleanly and accurately rendered down to the famous kneeling archer hood ornament, in-scale and very satisfyingly depicted. The real metal grill, beautifully blackwashed, is a joy to behold. Light lenses fore and aft are first class and deserve special mention, as do the superbly done red wire wheels. Under the hood, the big V12 engine passes muster but, regrettably, not much more as it lacks wiring or much in the way of specific detail. The undercarriage rises above the usual molded representation but is marred by those infernal plinth mounting stubs, not as obtrusive as the ones on Signature’s ’39 Lincoln Zephyr, but enough to detract from the realism of the image when viewed in profile.

The doors open authentically via internal hinges on the center pillar. The result is superb fit with tight shut lines (as previously mentioned), but the front and rear doors should not be opened together to avoid potentially damaging the paint. The interior is an admirable display of fine detail, offset by a few missed opportunities. The woodwork simulation, despite some necessary simplification, is still very convincing in terms of tone and grain; unfortunately, it’s not carried up and around the interior window frames. All the interior bright work is done with fine chromed pieces…none of the molded-in and painted-over nonsense that used to be the norm in lower priced models. The seats are outstanding: realistically molded and textured, and very true to the original. But, apart from a pair of dome lights and crudely rendered visors, the headliner has been ignored. The dashboard is good, even if a bit more 3D depth would have been appreciated, but the steering wheel is a solid monochrome piece. Most surprising is the lack of interior carpeting…only a textured simulation on the floor. I should stress that the overall effect of the interior is quite impressive, just a bit less so than I would have expected based on Signature’s past best efforts. Yes, they’ve been spoiling us…

Finally, it’s heartening to see a healthy respect for overall scale. With a 139-inch wheelbase and a curb weight of 5100 pounds, the Silver Arrow was a very big car. At just under 13 inches from bumper-to-bumper, Signature seems to have nailed this crucial aspect.

All in all, then, this is a stunning model of a glorious, distinctive subject. The fact that it costs under $40 makes Signature’s achievement all the more remarkable. It looks terrific nose-to-nose with Ricko’s ’34 Cadillac Aerodynamic Coupe (not quite as fine a model as this new one, but very good nonetheless…and true-to-scale). This whets the appetite for the Duesenberg Rollston SJ “Twenty Grand” or the prize-winning Packard Dietrich Sport Sedan, also featured at the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair. Imagine those in 1:18!

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