Peerless

US, 1901 – 1931

(1) Peerless Mfg Co, Cleveland, Ohio, 1900 – 1905

(2) Peerless Motor Car Co, Cleveland, Ohio, 1905 – 1931

The Peerless car was known in its heyday as ‘One of the three P’s’ (Packard, Peerless and Pierce-Arrow), the great trio of American motoring. The Peerless car first appeared in 1900, the product of a concern which had built clothes wringers and bicycles since 1869. Its début was not auspicious, the 1900 prototype Peerless car being a typical horseless carriage with bicycle wheels and a single-cylinder De Dion Bouton engine. This Peerless car was followed in 1901 by the Peerless Type C Motorette, with a 3½hp single-cylinder water-cooled engine, this Peerless car was priced at $1.300. This was augmented later in the year by the Peerless Type B, similar but smaller and cheaper. 

Louis P. Mooers came to Peerless cars as chief engineer in 1901 and it was he who shaped the policy of the Peerless car company during its first formative years. He designed the 1902 range of Peerless cars. These Peerless cars were shaft-driven and the engine was mounted vertically at the front of the car in what was to be the conventional arrangement in most cars, but was an innovation at the time. Selective sliding-gear transmission was used on Peerless cars and side-entrance tonneaus were included in the range, possibly the first cars of this type. The prototypes of the 1902 Peerless car line were equipped with a single-cylinder Mooers-designed engine, although the production Peerless cars had 2-cylinder power plants. The 1903 Peerless car series were based on 1902 Peerless racing cars (also designed by Mooers). Two Peerless cars were available, a 24 and a 35hp, both with 4-cylinder T-head engines of Mooers design. The year 1903 was notable for the appearance of the Peerless limousine, probably America’s first closed car that was not custom-built.

In 1904, Mooers designed the famous Peerless Green Dragon racing car, a behemoth with a 6x6in bore and stroke. Driven from track to track by Barney Oldfield, ‘The Boy in Green’ test driver for the Peerless car company’s racing cars, the Green Dragon brought Peerless cars an enviable reputation as Oldfield continued to break records – frequently his own. He crashed the Green Dragon Peerless car in 1905, but a new Peerless Green Dragon car was built and continued the record set by its earlier namesake.

By this time, the Peerless car company was rapidly expanding and production of Peerless cars was increased. The Peerless cars was regarded as one of the prestige cars of America and was priced accordingly. In 1907, the first 6-cylinder Peerless car was introduced although the fours continued for many years. Changes on Peerless cars were largely limited to perfection of details. In 1912, prices ranged from $4.200 to $7.200. By 1913, Peerless cars were equipped with self-starters of the Peerless car firm’s own design.

An important development in Peerless design was the introduction of a V8 Peerless car, a year after the rival Cadillac concern. This Peerless V8 appeared late in 1915 and was reasonably priced in comparison with the expensive six-cylinder Peerless cars which were discontinued at this time. With 80bhp at 2.700rpm, low speeds as well as high were possible in top gear. In appearance the V8 closely, resembled the Cadillac. The 1915 model Peerless car continued without basic change until 1922, by which time its appearance had become outmoded. For 1923, bodies of the Peerless car were lowered and rounded and the rear platform spring given up. Strangely enough, the newer design of the Peerless car also closely resembled the contemporary Cadillac. 

By 1923, business was good with some 5.000 Peerless cars being sold. A year later, a six was introduced as a companion car to the larger eight, now termed the ‘Peerless Equipoised Eight’. In 1925, for the first time, an outside engine was utilized in a six by Peerless cars. This was a Continental and was used on the Peerless 6-80 chassis. Prices of Peerless cars ranged from $1.400 for the cheapest six to more than $4.100 for the most expensive eight. Between 1926 and 1929, Peerless cars continued to market two lines of sixes and one of eights at prices from $1.895 to $3.795. But despite a wide price range, sales of Peerless cars were falling steadily, possibly because of generally uninspired and rather unattractive bodies. In 1929, the Peerless car range was redesigned, the new Peerless car models resembling the Marmon or Stutz to a considerable degree. A Continental straight-8 replaced the old V8 engine. The two sizes Peerless cars were continued and towards the end of 1929, with sales increasing, the outlook seemed brighter. Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky was hired to design the 1930 Peerless car line. Thsese Peerless cars were the sleekest and best-looking the Peerless car company had ever produced. Three sixes and one eight were offered by Peerless cars with prices ranging from $995 to $2.195. The eight was dropped shortly after its introduction.

Then came the Depression and this finished the Peerless car. The Peerless car make had slipped from 25th to 28th place among American car manufacturers from 1928 to 1929 and to 30th place in 1930.

It was early in 1931 that the Peerless car company decided to attempt to recapture its former position by introducing a new prestige Peerless car which would compare with the Cadillac-V16 and the Marmon Sixteen. This Peerless car was the Peerless V16; only one prototype Peerless car was built and this still survives today. Built in 1931, the Peerless car was to have been produced as a 1933 or possibly even a 1932 model. This Peerless car was almost entirely built of aluminium. With a 42lb frame, an aluminium engine of 7.6-litres and 173bhp at 3.300rpm the Peerless car was one of the handsomest cars ever made in the United States then or at any other time. Its custom sedan body was built by Murphy.

Actual production of Peerless cars ended on 30th June 1931. The Peerless car plant remained idle for more than two years then, prohibition having been repealed, the Peerless Motor Car Company became the Peerless Corporation, brewers of Carling’s Ale and as such, it survives to this day.

Source: Georgano, encyclopedia of motorcar; KM

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