Always built to the highest standards, the Packard was unquestionably one of the finest American cars of the pre-war era. As early as 1915 cars with twelve cylinder power plants were offered which Packard badged as Twin Sixes from the outset. These gave way to the Eight for which the marque is so well known in 1924 and it was not for another eight years, by which time competitors Cadillac, Pierce-Arrow and others had brought in twelves that Packard re-introduced their own, keeping it initially as a Twin Six, before succumbing to the terminology of the day for the 1933 season. 1939 was the Seventeenth series year for Packard, and with sales of less than 500 Twelves it would be the last year that the model was offered. The model closely resembled the previous year’s series which had seen the introduction of the Vee windshield and generally smoother lines with rounded fenders, it kept the ’38 styled grille and hood also. Independent front suspension and hydraulic brakes had been part of the Packard specification for some years now The example offered is one of the longer wheelbase variants of their Formal Sedan design (number 1232), built on the 139 inch wheelbase, and as new it would have cost $4,485. According to information provided by the seller the Packard was originally supplied to MGM Studios spent and some time being used on their studio lot for ferrying stars of the day, it is understood that this is why the car unusually for its model has a division, as well as the attractive addition of the soft roof top covering. In more recent times it is reported that it was included as one of the cars in the original Godfather movie, a role for which its understated appearance no doubt fitted in well. What cannot be denied is that it has survived to this day in a pleasingly unspoilt and well preserved order. The paint is tidily presented while the interior is thought to be the original and has worn modestly, the complete back compartment being intact, though the front bench seat fabric has been replaced at some stage. An interesting example of the end of the ‘Twelve’ era.
Always built to the highest standards, the Packard was unquestionably one of the finest American cars of the pre-war era. As early as 1915 cars with twelve cylinder power plants were offered which Packard badged as Twin Sixes from the outset. These gave way to the Eight for which the marque is so well known in 1924 and it was not for another eight years, by which time competitors Cadillac, Pierce-Arrow and others had brought in twelves that Packard re-introduced their own, keeping it initially as a Twin Six, before succumbing to the terminology of the day for the 1933 season. 1939 was the Seventeenth series year for Packard, and with sales of less than 500 Twelves it would be the last year that the model was offered. The model closely resembled the previous year’s series which had seen the introduction of the Vee windshield and generally smoother lines with rounded fenders, it kept the ’38 styled grille and hood also. Independent front suspension and hydraulic brakes had been part of the Packard specification for some years now The example offered is one of the longer wheelbase variants of their Formal Sedan design (number 1232), built on the 139 inch wheelbase, and as new it would have cost $4,485. According to information provided by the seller the Packard was originally supplied to MGM Studios spent and some time being used on their studio lot for ferrying stars of the day, it is understood that this is why the car unusually for its model has a division, as well as the attractive addition of the soft roof top covering. In more recent times it is reported that it was included as one of the cars in the original Godfather movie, a role for which its understated appearance no doubt fitted in well. What cannot be denied is that it has survived to this day in a pleasingly unspoilt and well preserved order. The paint is tidily presented while the interior is thought to be the original and has worn modestly, the complete back compartment being intact, though the front bench seat fabric has been replaced at some stage. An interesting example of the end of the ‘Twelve’ era.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
