Jim Grundy Jr.’s grandfather, Sam Baily, has been recorded by the AACA as the first restorer and collector of vintage vehicles. One of his earliest finds was a 1909 Pierce Arrow that he found in a Philadelphia scrap yard, in 1934. The cost to tow the vehicle out of the yard was a mere $50.00.

“It was destined for the crusher,” says Jim Grundy. “It was during a time when the wealthy families of Philadelphia were donating their old vehicles to the war effort.”

Baily manufactured truck bodies (Jack and Jill and Good Humor), and the Pierce Arrow found its way to his fabrication shop.  At the shop, the vehicle was completely restored.

And, so began the collector car hobby…

Because trailers didn’t exist in the old days, Sam drove the restored car “tens of thousands of miles, including the inaugural reenactment of the Glidden Tours, in 1946,” explains Grundy.

“And, Baily’s restorations set such high standards that when Sam showed up at meets, people discussed who would come in second,” says Grundy.

By the late 1940’s, after years of enjoying the Pierce Arrow, Baily sold the vehicle to a friend, who Grundy says ultimately became a prominent collector, also.

“The price was a whopping $320.00,” adds Grundy, with a hint of sarcasm in his voice. “Sam apologized, acknowledging that he had purchased the vehicle for only $50.00—the difference being the parts that were required for restoration.”

Grundy says that the “2000 man hours” taken to restore the Pierce were given free of charge “to spur the development of the new hobby.”

During these initial years of the budding hobby, Sam Baily’s daughter married Jim Grundy Sr., who began insuring collector vehicles for Sam and his close circle of friends in the AACA and VMCCA. The Pierce Arrow received the first-ever collector vehicle insurance policy.

Fortunately, for Jim Jr., Grundy Worldwide has insured the Pierce Arrow continuously since 1946, giving him the benefit of being able to locate the vehicle 20 years ago, when he delved into collecting cars, himself.  At that time, he expressed his desire to bring the Pierce back into his family, whenever the car would become available.

In 2006, the previous owner of the car passed away; in the spring of 2007, Grundy was contacted and told that the car was available to him, if he was still interested.

“Without hesitation, I suggested that the car be appraised, and I would pay that value,” says Grundy.

After the appraisal was completed, Grundy purchased the vehicle for over 1000 times the price for which his grandfather had sold the car in the late ‘40s.  But, Grundy goes on to explain that the moments he has spent with the car, thus far, are in fact priceless.

Grundy says that he brought the car home in April 2007, where after only a weekend’s worth of work, the engine (which had not been significantly touched since the 1930’s restoration) was running smoothly.

“And, the crowning moment occurred on Mother’s Day,” says Grundy. “Much to my mother’s surprise, we had gotten the Pierce. She looked out of her window to see us coming up the driveway with the grandkids in the back seat.”

Grundy says that tears and smiles were the order of the day, as his mother remembered every aspect of “daddy’s car” and told story after story of the early days of touring.

Story by: Becky McLaughlin

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