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1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Sedan Limiousine Chassis Num: 900362 |
| Sold for $1,650,000 at 2007 RM Auctions. | |||
In the automotive market, the marque's that suffered the most during this era were the luxury car segment that catered entirely to the upper class. The small pool of buyers dwindled even further during this time. Competition became very fierce as luxury brands began dropping prices and offering a wide variety of options just to entice buyers. At the top of the luxury car market was Packard, who introduced some of their greatest classic automobiles during this time.
In response to The Great Depression and the mounting competition from other marques, Packard introduced their V12 Twin Six with a wide range of elegant custom bodies. They also brought the coach-building craft in-house, where they could control the cost, quality, and the design. This allowed Packard to increase margins and operating efficiency. Many of the designs were still outsourced to such prominent design studios as Dietrich.
The V12 Twin Six was marketed for the upper class and continued Packard's tradition of creating large, powerful, stylish, and luxurious automobiles. This series was announced on June 23rd of 1931.
Packard weathered through the Great Depression in better form than some other marque's because it was in good financial standing and had a good cash position. By the close of the 1930s, Franklin, Marmon, Ruxton, Stutz, Peerles, Duesenberg, Stearns-Knight, and Pierce-Arrow had all gone out of business.
The Senior Packard cars in which Dietrich Inc created custom bodies for, were known as 'V-Windshield custom Dietrichs'. The standard Packard cars were constructed on 142-inch wheelbases. The Dietrich Individual customers sat atop of a 174.5-inch wheelbases.
This 1932 Packard Twin Six Sport Phaeton with coachwork by Dietrich, Inc., was offered for sale at the 2007 RM Auctions held in Amelia Island, Florida. The car was estimated to sell between $1,750,000 - $2,000,000. It is powered by a 445 cubic-inch side valve V12 engine with Stromberg downdraft carburetion and capable of producing 160 horsepower. There is a three-speed synchromesh gearbox and four-wheel adjustable vacuum assisted brakes. The elegant Sport Phaeton body sits atop a 147.5-inch wheelbase.
This vehicle has a rear windshield that is activated by a mechanism that can raise or lower it from its hidden compartment. Once in the raise position, a pair of side wings swing out and hook into place. Even in the raised position, the doors can be opened or closed.
The original owner of this vehicle is unknown. It is believed that around twelve vehicles, at most, were ever constructed with the sport phaeton body. Of the seven that have made it into the modern era, only five were constructed on the larger chassis. Two were build in 1932.
At auction, this was one of the highlights of the show. It had a selling price of $1,650,000.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2007
 |  |  | Convertible Sedan Coachwork: Dietrich |
 | Sport Phaeton Coachwork: Dietrich Chassis Num: 900331 Engine Num: 900362 | |
| Sold for $946,000 at 2012 RM Auctions. | ||
Production of the Dietrich bodied Sport Phaeton continued for two years (1932 and 1933). It is not fully certain exactly how many examples were produced, many agree upon no-more-than twelve. Of those (potentially) 12 created, just 7 remain. Just five were built on the twelve cylinder chassis and of those five, only two (including this example - chassis number 900331 with body number 5494) were built in 1932. Additionally, two examples of the Deluxe Eight chassis survive, and three examples on the 1933 Twelve chassis remain.
Body 5495 was updated in 1938 by fitting the original Twin Six sport phaeton body on a new 1938 Packard Twelve chassis. To accommodate this change, the upper cowl and windshield assembly were fitted to the new 1938 cowl. A more modern 'torpedo' style, rear-body section was grafted on, and a set of up-to-date, pontoon-style Packard fenders. Though not verified, there is some belief that the restoration work was done by Inskip in New York.
The owner who requested the work, also believed to be the original owner of the car, is thought to have been in the service of the U.S. Diplomatic Corps, and he accepted a posting to South Africa in the late-1930s. The Packard was brought with him to South Africa, where it was to remain until 1967 or 1968, when its location came to the attention of Jim Hull. Hull brought the car back to the United States.
The only other surviving 1932 Twin Six Dietrich Sport Phaeton, body number 5493, was in the care of Dick Dewey. Bob Bahre, of Oxford, Maine, had tried unsuccessfully to purchase the car from Dewey, believing it to be the only one left in existence. After learning of Hull's car, Bahre quickly negotiated its purchase. At the time, Mr. Bahre owned a low mileage 1932 Packard Twin Six chassis carrying 1920s Fleetwood coachwork that had been installed by its original owner in the period. A restoration soon followed, joining the Dietrich body with the 1932 Packard chassis. During the process, the 'updates' that had been carried out in the late-1930s were reversed.
Before the restoration work could be completed, Dick Dewey approached Bob Bahre, finally willing to sell his body 5493, on the condition that Bob trade him 5494, plus a cash difference. Reluctantly, Bob agreed to the deal on the condition that if Dick ever sold it, he would have right of first refusal.
Dick accepted the deal and the unfinished Sport Phaeton was delivered to Dick. In the early-1990s, the Sport Phaeton was beginning to show some signs of its extensive use. Dick decided to offer it to sale to Bob, who exercised his right of the first refusal and traded Dick a 1932 Super Eight production phaeton plus a cash difference. Bob began plans to have the car freshened; before work began, Mr. Lee Herrington was able to negotiate the purchase of 5494.
Mr. Herrington had the car sent to RM Auto Restoration, where it was given a no-holds-barred restoration, including a complete mechanical restoration. When completed, the car was finished in dark violet exterior with with a custom taupe colored interior. Upon completion, the car made its restoration debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it awarded the Gwen Graham Award for Most Elegant Open Car. It later earned its CCCA National First Place Senior Award, as well as both Junior and Senior AACA awards.
The car was later purchased by Mr. John O'Quinn.
In 2012, the car was offered for sale at RM Auction's Monterey, California sale. It was estimated to sell for $1,100,000 - $1,400,000. As bidding came to a close, this 'Out of Africa' car was sold for the sum of $946,000, inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012
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
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
 1932
Packard
models |
| Packard Model 900 Light Eight |
| Packard Model 902 Eight |
| Packard Model 903 Deluxe Eight |
| Packard Model 904 DeLuxe Eight |
| Packard Model 905 Twin Six |
| Packard Waterhouse Sport Sedan |
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