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Topic starter
28/05/2024 9:07 pm
I just received a model by Kess of my friend Bob Jacobsen's '33 Pierce Arrow Convertible Sedan by Le Baron. Two of this body exist of five made. Dr. Barbara Mae Atwood of Rockford Ill. owned the 1:1 car from 1983 to 2008. Among other things, she was a Stanford graduate, a PHD and former Vogue model. Dr. Atwood had it restored. It was one of 24 classic cars she owned. Dr. Atwood had shown the car at several concours in the Mid West and East where the car won several first place awards in those shows. The Academy of Arts in San Francisco acquired the car from Dr. Atwood's estate in 2009 and kept it until 2019 when my friend Bob Jacobsen purchased it. Bob has been busy freshing up the car with some of the finer details to bring the car to top concours form. Bob has won Best of Show at Ironstone and Best of Show and a Western National Meet of the Pierce arrow Society. The car is entered in the Hillsborough Concours June 23, 2024. The model from Kess is very well done. I did have to remove the driving lights at the front bumper to get the model to look correct to the real car. The green car that exists had the driving lights.
This topic was modified 2 years ago 3 times by Curtis Parisi
29/05/2024 2:02 am
I was on the fence on this one for quite some time. I mentioned about a year ago when it was announced by KESS.
Now that I see your pictures, I am not convinced if it's really worth it.
Anyway, I ordered one at an already discounted price and will see.
Christopher Moroni reacted
29/05/2024 3:23 pm
The model from Kess is very well done.
Great background, Curtis. How special to have a model of a car you are personally familiar with.
John Kuvakas
Warrenton, VA
29/05/2024 6:45 pm
I like your pictures of the 1/1 and 1/43 scale Kess model. Based on your writeup Curtis, I have the model on the way. This should display nicely with the Pierce Silver Arrow models I have in both white metal and resin.
John Kuvakas and John Merritt reacted
29/05/2024 6:52 pm
I added this one as well, got the closed versions of the green and black too. If it's a Pierce-Arrow, I'm all in. I have plans to put together a post of my PA models as well as some of the 1:1s I've seen. I've probably seen 150+ PA models over the years, these are very influential cars in my love of the automobile. I recall seeing one at a very young age and have been mystified by them ever since.
A great model Curtis, congrats on the add and what a glorious car to have personal experience with.
John Merritt
South Lyon, Michigan - USA
29/05/2024 9:04 pm
Curtis, You mentioned the Hillsborough Concours, but is the date June 23, 2024 not 2004? It was always a do not miss show when I was in the Bay Area.
John F. Quilter
Eugene, Oregon USA
John Kuvakas reacted
Topic starter
29/05/2024 9:45 pm
@jcarnutz The blue and green cars are 1242 with the 142" wheelbase. Kess also made the black one you are getting but the real car is a 1247 147" wheel base car. Of course one on the original 1242 cars could have been black.
This post was modified 2 years ago 2 times by Curtis Parisi
John Kuvakas and John Merritt reacted
Topic starter
29/05/2024 9:47 pm
@john-quilter Of course a typo and now corrected.
John Kuvakas reacted
29/05/2024 11:52 pm
@parisi50 All KESS models are based on the 1242. Here are interesting facts about the 1933 models and a period rendering of the large 1247. The big one is easy to recognize because it has 3 exposed hinges to hang the front doors instead of 2 on the shorter wheelbase models.
Marc Ralston, Pierce-Arrow, Tantivy Press, London, First Edition, 1980.
This post was modified 2 years ago by Richard Dube
30/05/2024 12:28 am
It is a beautiful and imposing Pierce-Arrow automobile and also an excellent model of it. Very nice !
John Kuvakas reacted