1938 Packard 1608 Twelve Images, Information and History (12)

1938 Packard 1608 Twelve news, pictures, and information
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Convertible Sedan
Coachwork: Dietrich

Packard was the first automaker to manufacture a 12-cylinder car, and between 1915 and 1923 more than 35,000 of them rolled out of the factory. Packard then turned to straight-eights, but eight years later, when Cadillac announced that it would make a V16, Packard decided to counter with another V12. The Packard V12 of 1915 had been called the Twin Six, and this name was revived for the new car, which had a 160 horsepower, 445 cubic-inch engine with banks of cylinders at 67-degrees. The Twin Six name was used for just the 1932 season, after which, the cars were called simply Packard Twelves. The current owner of this example purchased it as a 'basket case' in 2006. Parts for the car were scattered around several locations in the Akron, Ohio area. The restoration took almost three years to complete. This car is the 22nd of 25 built in 1938.

Only 25 twelve cylinder convertible sedans were built by Packard in 1939 and only nine or ten remain today.

			Brunn Touring Cabriolet Coachwork: Brunn Chassis Num: 16082007 Engine Num: A600189

This 1938 Packard V-12 Brunn Touring Cabriolet Sixteenth Series 1608 was offered for sale at the 2006 Gooding & Company Auction held at Pebble Beach, Ca. The car was offered with a reserve and estimated to sell for $150,000-$225,000. It is powered by a twelve-cylinder engine that displaces 473.31 cubic-inches and produces 175 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual gearbox and an independent front suspension.

This car was displayed at the Philadelphia Auto Show. It left the show under the ownership of Mrs. Margaret Dorrance Stawbridge of Villanova, Pa. She was the heiress to the Campbell Soup fortune and a regular Packard customer. After she passed away, the car remained in the possession of her husband, George Strawbridge. It remained in the Strawbridge family until it was purchased by Mr. Albert Sellers who retained the vehicle until 1956. The vehicles next owner was Mr. Barnard Walsh who kept the car for 28 years.

It has a pair of side-mounted spare tires with metal covers, a Packard Deluxe radio, heater, triple lights, rear Jaeger clock, custom trunk, and a walnut interior trim.

Since new, the car has been treated to a comprehensive mechanical and cosmetic restoration. It is finished in maroon lacquer and has a tan interior and canvas top.

It is one of only nine built. The custom coachwork by Brunn has body number 3. At auction, the car was left unsold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2007

Brunn Touring Cabriolet
Coachwork: Brunn

Packard's most expensive cataloged models were the two Brunn Cabriolets, both of which had base price tags of $8,510. The vehicles, though similar to the Dietrich-designed convertible sedan shell, used Brunn's own exclusive 4-door bodies, with all doors latching to the rear.

These units were built in Brunn's own plant at Buffalo, NY where final assembly of the beautiful cars took place. They could be ordered with collapsible rear quarters with or without decorative irons. The roof portion between the B and C-pillars was always solid, but on a full-custom basis probably could have also been convertible, had such an order materialized.

The forward compartment was always done in high grade leather, while a variety of quality materials was available for the tonneau. Although Brunn had always worked closely with Lincoln, it does not seem that this particular body was even cataloged by that company, though Edsel Ford ordered a variation of the style for his own personal use on a Lincoln Series K.

This vehicle has leather front seats, cloth rear seats, folding/collapsible rear.

			Landavlet Touring Cabriolet Coachwork: Brunn Chassis Num: A600114
Sold for $27,500 at 2008 RM Auctions.

Coachbuilder Hermann Brunn designed for himself a long-wheelbase landaulet-type body with open chauffeur compartment in 1935. He called it cabriolet. Lincoln added the design to their catalog custom line for 1937 and was extended to Packard in 1938, offered as the All Weather Cabriolet. The Touring Cabriolet with a fixed forward roof was added as well, and both styles were available in Landavet form, with a folding rear top and functional landau irons, or non-collapsible with a fixed rear roof and faux landau irons.

This particular example was discovered in a shed in Lovelock, Nevada and purchased by the current owner's father. It was put into storage where it remained for the next 25 years. The front sheet metal is from another car. The body is solid with many divots, dings, and dents throughout.

In 2008 this 1938 Packard Twelve Landavlet Touring Cabriolet with coachwork by Brunn was brought to RM Auctions 'Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook' where it was estimated to sell for $75,000-$100,000 and offered without reserve. A high bid of $27,500 including buyer's premium was enough to secure new ownership. The lot was sold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2008

		Brunn Touring Cabriolet Coachwork: Brunn Chassis Num: 1608-2007 Engine Num: A600189
Sold for $236,500 at 2008 RM Auctions.

Brunn created a long-wheelbase landaulet-type body with an open chauffeur compartment, which he called a cabriolet, in 1935. Two years later, it was added to the Lincoln catalog custom line. The following year, in 1938, it became park of Packard's line-up as well. It was available both as the All Weather Cabriolet, with removable leather roof for the chauffeur, or Touring Cabriolet with a fixed forward roof that had small smoked-glass clerestory windows over windshield. Both of these could be ordered in Collapsible form that had folding rear top and functional landau irons, and Non-Collapsible with a fixed rear roof and faux landau irons.

The 1938 Packard Twelve Collapsible Touring Cabriolet has coachwork by Brunn. It was on display at the 1938 Philadelphia Auto Show and purchased by Margaret Dorrance Strawbridge, the daughter of John T. Dorrance, the founder of the Campbell Soup Company. Margaret was both an aviator and a sportswoman who rode with the Radnor Hunt Club and was named one of Philadelphia's six best-dressed women. The car remained in her care for her entire life. It was inherited by her husband when she passed away in 1953. Its ownership changed on several occasions since then, and it has been treated to a restoration.

It wears a Brunn body serial number 3 which is painted in maroon lacquer and has a tan cloth interior. There is a tan canvas-covered top and the rear section is collapsible allowing the passengers to enjoy the open air.

It is well equipped with a Packard Deluxe radio, heater, custom trunk, Trippe driving lights, Jaeger clock, and dual side-mounted spares with metal covers.

In 2008, this car was brought to the 2nd Annual Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey presented by RM Auctions where it was estimated to sell for $150,000-$200,000. Bidding exceeded those estimates, settling at $236,500 including buyer's premium. The lot was sold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2008

Phaeton
Coachwork: Derham

This open Packard without windows features custom coachwork by the Derham Company of Rosemont, Pennsylvania. The car was built for Matthew McCloskey, a prominent Philadelphia construction mogul who was appointed ambassador to Ireland by President Kennedy.

This vehicle was built on Pacakrd's 139-inch wheelbase chassis and powered by the 473.3 cubic-inch Packard Twelve that developed 175 horsepower.

By 1938, production of the Packard Twelve had dwindled to only 556 cars - and this was spread over 14 different models. Price of this custom-built Packard was in excess of $5,000.

		Convertible Coupe Chassis Num: A600534
Sold for $259,600 at 2008 RM Auctions. Sold for $286,000 at 2009 RM Auctions.

This vehicle is a 1938 Packard Twelve Coupe Roadster Model 1608 that has been given a comprehensive restoration since new. The interior features tan leather and there are whitewall tires, dual side-mounted spares with proper Packard metal covers and rearview mirrors. There is also a pair of period correct Trippe lights and a Cormorant hood ornament.

In 2009, Packard Twelve was offered for sale at the Automobiles of Amelia Island auction presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $275,000 - $350,000. The lot was sold for the sum of $286,000, including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2009

Brunn Touring Cabriolet
Coachwork: Brunn

This 1938 Packard Twelve Model 1608 Landaulet wears coachwork by Brunn. The 1938 Packard Twelves featured a new vee'd windshield, hood and grille with three adjustable cooling louvers along each side of the hood a new instrument panel. An industry recession resulted in a huge drop in sales, with only about 566 cars built.

All Weather Town Car
Coachwork: Rollston & Company

This 1938 Packard Twelve Model 1608 Town Car wears coachwork by Rollston. It was built in October of 1937 and cot $6,880 when new.

			Convertible Sedan Coachwork: Dietrich Chassis Num: 411472
Sold for $99,000 at 2009 RM Auctions.

There were 566 examples of the Packard Twelve produced for 1938 and just 25 were given the Dietrich-designed Convertible Sedan body style, selling for nearly $6,000 when new. This example is a Series 1608 powered by a 473.3 cubic-inch L-head V12 engine capable of producing 175 horsepower. A restoration was performed in the early-to-mid 1990s and has recently received a number of mechanical upgrades including a new clutch and new dual ignition coils as well as rebuilt components including the starter, generator and carburetor. The exterior is painted in metallic sand finish and there is a fawn convertible top and a light tan leather interior. There are dual side mounted spare tires with mirrors, bumper guards, fog lamps and a rear luggage rack. It is believed to be one of just six examples to remain in existence.

In 2009, it was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $130,000-$160,000. The lot was sold for the sum of $99,000 including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2009

Town Car
Coachwork: Brunn

The Brunn-Derham Town Car body on this car was originally built by Brunn & Company on a 1929 Pierce-Arrow chassis. The original owner of that car liked the town car so much that in 1938 she had its beloved body transferred to a new chassis - this Packard Twelve - rather than buying a new car. The car is mostly preserved, not restored.

Limousine
Coachwork: Bohman & Schwartz

This 1938 Packard Twelve 1608 Limousine was originally owned by actor Lionel Barrymore, who had the wheelchair conversion made by coachbuilder Bohman & Schwartz for $1,850.
By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2010

			Convertible Sedan Coachwork: Brunn Chassis Num: A600520
Sold for $192,500 at 2004 RM Auctions. Sold for $167,750 at 2010 RM Auctions.

This Packard Twelve Model 1608 was sold new by California Packard dealer Earl C. Anthony Inc. in August of 1938. It is believed that this car was once part of the Harrah Collection before passing through several individuals and then finally joining a noted private collection in 2004. It was given a body-off-frame restoration in 2004 by George Fore of Fore's Restoration. In 1997, it received an AACA First Junior Award in Greenville, South Carolina, followed by Best in Show at the AACA North Alabama Regional show. At Hershey, the Packard received a Senior Class Award, as evidenced by badge number 19D0640, as well as the Joseph Parkin Award for the Eastern Division, an award recognizing the top Packard at the meet. It returned to the show circuit in 1998, scoring perfectly at the CCCA Spring Grand Classic in Palm Beach, Florida in April, where it was awarded Senior Badge number 2134 for the Primary Production class, 1937- 1939. At the Packard Centennial Celebration in Warren, Ohio, the car was awarded Best in Class honors.

It has scored a 99.75 points at the CCCA Spring Grand Classic in Ormond Beach, Florida, where it earned a second Senior Badge, numbered 2134S. It won Best in Class at the PAC National Meet in Virginia, followed by Best in Class at the Hilton Head Concours d'Elegance.

In 2010, this Convertible Sedan was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook event presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $150,000 - $200,000. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $167,750 including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2010

Brunn All-Weather Cabriolet
Coachwork: Brunn
Chassis Num: A600416

Packard 1608 Twelve Brunn All-Weather Cabriolet

1 of 3 Built! In 1938 Brunn was awarded a contract to build a few Touring Cabriolets and All-Weather Cabriolets (Town Cars) for their twelve-cylinder Model 1608 and 1708 chassis (1938-39). Normally 95 per cent of series-built production bodies would be shipped to the chassis manufacturer's plant for mounting, but Packard requested that Brunn mount the Cabriolet bodies. Packard shipped the running chassis to Buffalo with a soapbox driver's seat in place and gave Brunn $150 for mounting the bodies. Most of the Brunn Touring Cabriolets were sold by California Packard distributor Earl C. Anthony. This extremely rare example is formerly of the Koll Collection. Less than 100 miles on a complete engine rebuild which was performed by Brian Joseph. Mostly original car including the mint original upholstery from 1938.

			Convertible Coupe Chassis Num: 11392020
Sold for $165,000 at 2011 RM Auctions.

In 1938, Packard offered the Twelve with 14 different body styles and constructed 566 in various configurations.

This Packard Twelve Convertible Coupe was delivered new by Thompson Motor Co., Ltd. in Beverly Hills, California in June of 1938. In 2002, it was acquired by its current owner and has resided in Seattle. The owner commissioned a shop in Pennsylvania to perform a cosmetic restoration which included a full repaint and installation of fresh upholstery. Finished in Chinese Red, the exterior is complemented by the reupholstered Red leather interior and rumble seat and newer Tan cloth top. It is equipped with a trunk rack, radio, heater, turn signals, Trippe lights and dual enclosed side-mounts with metal covers and mirrors.

Convertible Victoria
Coachwork: Derham

This custom-built Packard was the collaboration of purchaser Frank B. Wentz Jr. of Philadelphia and Enos Derham of the famed Derham Body Company of Rosemont, Pennsylvania. Finally delivered in early 1939, the body alone cost $4,132.10. Fortunately every scrap of correspondence dealing with the construction of this car exists in the Derham archives, which are now located in the Classic Car Club of American Museum in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

	Convertible Sedan Coachwork: Dietrich Chassis Num: 600583 Engine Num: A-600583
Sold for $132,000 at 2013 RM Auctions.

The Packard Twelve was the company's top-of-the-line automobile and many people believe the signature car of the Classic Era. It was a conservative automobile with elegant appointments and a refined chassis powered by a quiet 12-cylinder powerplant.

During this era the cylinder war was in full swing, as was the Great Depression. However, the development of Packard's Twelve began years prior, dating back to the Cord L-29 and the Miller-engines front drive race cars. Packard's management entertained the idea of the front drive vehicle and commissioned the construction of a prototype. A 12-cylinder engine was also created for this new car, as the shorter length of a V-12, compared with Packard's inline eight, allowed more flexibility in packaging the front-drive chassis.

After testing revealed weakness with the front-drive chassis design, and development costs skyrocketed, Packard decided to abandon the project. Meanwhile, Cadillac had introduced their mighty 16- and 12-cylinder models, igniting a frenzy that would ripple throughout the automotive industry. Packard's response was to install their new 12-cylinder engine into Packard's proven Deluxe Eight chassis. When introduced, Packard dubbed their new creation the Twin Six, in honor of Packard's first V-12 which had been introduced 15 years earlier. By 1933, the name had been changed to the Packard Twelve. 1933 was also the last year for Packards to have flowing fenders and classic lines before switching to the streamlined look.

The Twelve displaced an additional 49 cubic-inches, or 12% more than the Twin Six, the horsepower output was nearly doubled from 90 to 175. Packard's Twelve would remain as their prestige leader through the end of the 1930s, along the way gradually adopting more streamlined styling with full pontoon fenders and bullet-like headlights.

This Convertible Sedan is a 17th series car from 1938. It is reportedly one of fewer than 30 built and is one of five known survivors. Its history has been traced to Russell Nairn, who reportedly bought the car after many years as a tour car for its earlier owner. Nairn later sold the Packard to Thomas Lehmann, of Germany. Lehmann began the restoration with a shop in Wisconsin, selling the car to a collector in Iowa while work was underway. The body-off restoration was completed after many years in April of 2004. The car then traded hands again and was shown several times regionally. In the fall of 2006, it was acquired by John O'Quinn.

The car is finished in black with a corrected buttoned red leather interior and ivory steering wheel, and a black Haartz cloth top.

In 2013, this car was offered for sale at RM Auctions Scottsdale, Arizona sale. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $132,000 inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2013

The Packard Twelve was produced from 1933 to 1939 with over 35,000 examples produced. It is considered by many to be one of the finest automobiles produced by Packard and one of the most significant creations of the classic car era. The long and flowing front hood hid a 445 cubic-inch side-valve twelve cylinder engine that was refined, powerful, smooth, and quiet.

The engine was originally destined for a front wheel drive project which eventually proved to have weaknesses. That and the anticipated development cost were too much to be practical so Packard decided to scrap the idea. Cadillac had introduced their 16-cylinder engine and other marques such as Pierce-Arrow were improving the performance of their offerings. Packard was feeling the pressure and decided to place the engine into the Deluxe Eight Chassis and dubbed it the Twin Six. The name was in honor of Packard's achievement fifteen years earlier when the introduced their first 12-cylinder engine. By 1933 the name was changed to Twelve to be inline with the rest of the Packard models.

Most of the Packard production Twelve's received factory bodies. Only a handful received custom coachwork by such greats as LeBaron and Dietrich.

In 1935 Packard introduced more horsepower and mechanical improvements. The suspension became more plush and comfortable while the steering became easier to operate. The cars were designed and built as one unit including the fenders, running boards, hood and body.

1936 the final year for 17 inch wire wheels and the double blade bumpers with hydraulic dampers.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2008

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1938 Packard 1608 Twelve news, pictures, and information

Packard 1608 Twelve Brunn All-Weather Cabriolet