Land Speed Racer Project: 1931 Pierce-Arrow

Some listings are straightforward. This one definitely isn’t. Up for auction on eBay is what’s described as a 1931 Pierce-Arrow land speed race car, currently located in St. Petersburg, Florida, and it reads more like a piece of lost history than a typical project car. Between its unusual construction, unclear origins, and ties to early speed racing culture, this is the kind of thing that makes you stop and read every line twice.

According to the seller, the car is built on a 1930 Pierce-Arrow chassis with a straight-eight engine and a four-speed transmission. From there, things get unusual fast. The body is said to use an aviation-style “bird cage” structure covered with screen and an early plastic body—something the seller claims predates other attempts at plastic-bodied cars by years.

The design leans heavily into aircraft influence. The listing notes features like aluminum body spars, aircraft-style rivets, and even specialized gauges including a 300 mph speedometer, an altimeter, and a compass. The cockpit was reportedly repositioned near the rear axle, with controls extended to match, suggesting a focus on aerodynamics and weight distribution.

There’s also a lot of creativity baked into the details. The seller describes a custom setup that translates engine RPM into aircraft-style tachometer readings, along with unique door mechanisms and hinges. At some point around 2013, parts of the body were covered in aluminum foil to better highlight the shape, which led to its nickname—the “Baked Potato.”

Not everything is complete. The listing mentions missing components including the radiator, carburetors, and hood sides, which were originally designed to open outward for cooling between speed runs. That detail alone hints at how this car may have been intended to function during timed runs, where quick turnaround was critical.

The history side is where things really get interesting—and a bit speculative. The current owner believes there are clues pointing to Preston Tucker possibly being involved in its creation, though they openly offer a reward for anyone who can prove its origins. There are also references to early Daytona and Ormond Beach speed events, and even a note about a radical car that reportedly broke down during a run in 1931.

The car’s story includes time spent abandoned in a hotel basement before being rediscovered decades later and eventually featured on American Pickers in 2012. It also appeared at a 2013 event where it received an award for “American Racing Spirit,” according to the listing.

This isn’t a typical restoration project. It’s more of a puzzle—part engineering experiment, part racing artifact, and part mystery. Whether someone approaches it as a preservation piece, a research project, or something else entirely, it’s clearly not something you come across often.