A Bite of History – Mike Thies


Peerless

The Peerless Motor Car Company, founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1900, earned its name by producing automobiles that lived up to its title—peerless in quality, performance, and innovation. As one of the famed “Three Ps” of early American luxury motoring—Packard, Pierce-Arrow, and Peerless—the brand was celebrated for its engineering precision and elegant styling.

iconic 1927 Peerless Six-90 Sedan - Oliver_CM - Digital Art ...

Peerless was among the first to adopt key automotive advancements, including the use of front-mounted engines and drum brakes. Their cars were luxurious yet performance-driven, earning accolades in endurance races and speed trials, and attracting customers who demanded both refinement and reliability.

During World War I, Peerless shifted to military truck production, demonstrating its versatility and patriotic commitment. But as the Great Depression deepened, the market for luxury cars shrank dramatically. Peerless ceased automobile production in 1931, making one final pivot: the company repurposed its facilities to become the Peerless Brewing Company, producing beer under the name “Carling.”

Though its time in the automotive world was brief, Peerless remains a lasting symbol of America’s golden age of handcrafted, high-performance motoring.

 

Views: 9

Comment

You need to be a member of SOUTH EAST USA WHEELS EVENTS-Car and Motorcycle Events Calendar to add comments!

Join SOUTH EAST USA WHEELS EVENTS-Car and Motorcycle Events Calendar

Blog Posts

A Bite of History: Triumph TR8

A Bite of History: by MikeThies

Triumph TR8

The Triumph TR8, introduced in 1978, was often called the “English Corvette.” It was essentially a Triumph TR7 fitted with a Rover 3.5-liter aluminum V8, a powerplant with American Buick origins that had been adopted by British Leyland in the 1960s. With around 135 to 150 horsepower in…

Continue

Posted by Michael Thies on September 9, 2025 at 5:00pm

A Bite of History: 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL

A Bite of History: by Mike Thies

1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL

Introduced in late 1966 for a short, single-year production run, the 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250SL holds a special place in the “Pagoda” lineage (W113 series) as the rarest variant, with only about 5,196 units built. Positioned between the earlier 230SL and the later 280SL, the 250SL…

Continue

Posted by Michael Thies on August 14, 2025 at 7:30pm

A Bite of History: American Bantam “Woody” Station Wagon by Mike Thies

A Bite of History:  by Mike Thies

American Bantam “Woody” Station Wagon

The American Bantam Car Company was a small but innovative automaker based in Butler, Pennsylvania. Originally established as American Austin in the 1920s to produce miniature cars under license from the British Austin Motor Company, the firm reorganized…

Continue

Posted by Michael Thies on August 2, 2025 at 8:00pm — 1 Comment

A Bite of History: 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster

A Bite of History: by Mike Thies

1958 Porsche 356 Speedster

The 1958 Porsche 356 Speedster marks the swan song of one of Porsche’s most iconic and minimalist models. Originally introduced in 1954 at the urging of U.S. importer Max Hoffman, the Speedster was designed to be a low cost, lightweight, stripped-down entry sports car that could double as a weekend racer, especially for the California sports car scene. With its low windshield,…

Continue

Posted by Michael Thies on July 14, 2025 at 5:22pm

© 2025   Created by Global Wheels Events.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service