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1938 Packard 1601 Eight news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Cabriolet Designer: Graber |
First shown at the Geneva Auto Salon in 1938, this is one of just two or three Packards that were bodied by Graber along with three Duesenbergs. This Packard was a real barn find in the early 1990s, but it took the owner the best part of two decades to convince its reluctant owner to sell. It had spent all its life in Switzerland but the car had not been on the road since the 1950s. At that time the car was owned by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Messerli. At some point Mr. Messerli was taken ill, and his wife put the car away for safe keeping in a garage in Switzerland. The new owner of the car and the Graber Coachbuilding name bought the car in 2009 and after a little mechanical work the car runs like new again.
Prior to these events, the car had not been on the road since the late 1940s. The car was researched and restored by Automotive restoration in Lebanon, New Jersey.
 |  |  | Convertible Victoria Coachwork: Darrin Chassis Num: A309389 |
| Sold for $269,500 at 2010 RM Auctions. | |||
One of the most memorable designs bestowed upon the Packard chassis was those of Howard 'Dutch' Darrin. He began with a standard Eight Business Coupe and gave it a rakish body and sweeping cut-down curves of the doors - known as the 'Darrin Dip.' The Darrin became part of the catalog for 1940 with three models: Sport Sedan, Convertible Sedan and Convertible Victoria. Nearly 100 were built through 1942 when production was halted prior to World War II.
This example is the second Darrin convertible produced. It is believed that it was built for the actor Clark Gable. The car had an ash frame with aluminum cowl and many hand-fashioned trim pieces. The car is unique in that the length of the hood is stretched to within one-half inch of the door opening, the only one of the series built that way.
Gable kept the car for only a short time. The next owner was a lady in Texas.
This car wears an older restoration and is fitted with many unique hand-fashioned parts. It has a black exterior, maroon leather interior and a tan canvas top.
The 282 cubic-inch inline L-head 8-cylinder engine produces 120 horsepower. There is a three-speed manual transmission and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes with vacuum booster.
In 2010, the car was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $225,000 - $300,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $269,500 inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2010
For 1938, the Packard One Twenty became the Eight. It rode on a wheelbase that measured 127-inches, the same as the Six. Power was from an eight-cylinder 282 cubic-inch engine delivering 120 horsepower. There were six body styles available, including Convertible, Club Coupe, and Business Coupe options. Pricing ranged from $1220 - $1370.
In 1939, the eight-cylinder Junior Packard name returned back to the One-Twenty.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2011
In 1939, the eight-cylinder Junior Packard name returned back to the One-Twenty.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2011
 |  |  | All-Weather Panel Brougham Coachwork: Rollston & Company Engine Num: 310934 |
| Sold for $77,000 at 2012 Gooding & Company. | |||
This example was purchased by the Pettit family in the early 1950s. It has a Packard DeLuxe hood mascot, chrome wheel-cover trim rings, sliding-glass compartment divider and coach lamps mounted to the B-pillars.
Just a few months after this example was produced, the Rollston Company went into receivership. A few examples of the panel brougham body style were made when the company briefly converted to the name Rollson.
In 2012, the car was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Pebble Beach, California. It was estimated to sell for $50,000 - $75,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $77,000, inclusive of buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2012
The Packard One-Twenty was produced from 1935 through 1937 and again from 1939 through 1941. The One-Twenty signified Packard's move into the mid-priced eight cylinder market; a highly competitive segment that was filled with many marques with numerous offerings, options and price ranges. The move had been made due to financial reasons and the need to stay competitive; the Great Depression was taking its tool on the entire automotive industry but mostly on the high priced manufactures. The lower cost marques also had a tough time but a few were still able to move a considerable amounts of products and wade out this terrible time in history.
The One-Twenty was quickly designed, created, and made ready for sale. First offered in 1935, it could be purchased in numerous body styles that included coupes, convertibles, and two- and four-door configurations. Under the hood lurked an L-Head eight cylinder engine capable of producing 110 horsepower. The price range was competitive, with prices ranging from the mid $900's to the low-$1000's. This combination of mid-cost and adorned with the Packard nameplate proved to be the right combination and in its first year nearly 25,000 examples were created. The rest of the Packard model lines only accumulated to around 7000 examples being sold.
For 1936 Packard increased the displacement of the engine and horsepower rose to 120 and gave the One-Twenty a top speed of 85 mph. A convertible four-door sedan was added to the line-up with a $1395 price tag, making it the most expensive One-Twenty body style. Sales continued to be strong and more than doubled over the prior year. This would be the best sales year for the Packard One-Twenty.
Packard introduced the Six in 1937. This was the first time in ten years that a six-cylinder engine could be found in a Packard. The reasoning was again economics and the constant struggle to stay in business by offering a quality product at a reasonable price. The Packard Six meant that the One-Twenty was to move higher up the market, being offered with more amenities and options. Two of these options were the 'C' and 'CD' trim levels. A wood-bodied station wagon and Touring Sedan were added to the line-up. A limousine body style, sitting atop a 138 inch wheelbase was also available for the first time, setting the buyer back a hefty $2000. There were 50,100 examples of all One-Twenty body styles producing during this year.
To conform to Packard's standard naming conventions, the One-Twenty was known as the Packard Eight for 1938. A year later, it was back to being called the One-Twenty. There were still a slew of body styles to choose from, able to satisfy all of their customer's desires and needs. The price range was competitive, costing from around $1100 to $1856. Though the product and the price were good, sales were slow with only 17,647 units being produced. The recession was taking its toll. Packard had even introduced many new mechanical improvements such as placing the shifter on the column rather than on the floor. For the following years, sales began to rise again, now amassing to 28,138 examples being produced. The name One-Twenty was now hyphenated.
For 1941 Packard offered the One-Twenty in eight body styles. The styling had been modified from the prior years, with the headlamps now residing in and on the fenders.
The One-Ten and One-Twenty were both dropped in 1942 and their names were merged with the Packard Six and Packard Eight lines. The One-Twenty had in production for seven years and 175,027 examples were produced.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2010
For more information and related vehicles, click hereThe One-Twenty was quickly designed, created, and made ready for sale. First offered in 1935, it could be purchased in numerous body styles that included coupes, convertibles, and two- and four-door configurations. Under the hood lurked an L-Head eight cylinder engine capable of producing 110 horsepower. The price range was competitive, with prices ranging from the mid $900's to the low-$1000's. This combination of mid-cost and adorned with the Packard nameplate proved to be the right combination and in its first year nearly 25,000 examples were created. The rest of the Packard model lines only accumulated to around 7000 examples being sold.
For 1936 Packard increased the displacement of the engine and horsepower rose to 120 and gave the One-Twenty a top speed of 85 mph. A convertible four-door sedan was added to the line-up with a $1395 price tag, making it the most expensive One-Twenty body style. Sales continued to be strong and more than doubled over the prior year. This would be the best sales year for the Packard One-Twenty.
Packard introduced the Six in 1937. This was the first time in ten years that a six-cylinder engine could be found in a Packard. The reasoning was again economics and the constant struggle to stay in business by offering a quality product at a reasonable price. The Packard Six meant that the One-Twenty was to move higher up the market, being offered with more amenities and options. Two of these options were the 'C' and 'CD' trim levels. A wood-bodied station wagon and Touring Sedan were added to the line-up. A limousine body style, sitting atop a 138 inch wheelbase was also available for the first time, setting the buyer back a hefty $2000. There were 50,100 examples of all One-Twenty body styles producing during this year.
To conform to Packard's standard naming conventions, the One-Twenty was known as the Packard Eight for 1938. A year later, it was back to being called the One-Twenty. There were still a slew of body styles to choose from, able to satisfy all of their customer's desires and needs. The price range was competitive, costing from around $1100 to $1856. Though the product and the price were good, sales were slow with only 17,647 units being produced. The recession was taking its toll. Packard had even introduced many new mechanical improvements such as placing the shifter on the column rather than on the floor. For the following years, sales began to rise again, now amassing to 28,138 examples being produced. The name One-Twenty was now hyphenated.
For 1941 Packard offered the One-Twenty in eight body styles. The styling had been modified from the prior years, with the headlamps now residing in and on the fenders.
The One-Ten and One-Twenty were both dropped in 1942 and their names were merged with the Packard Six and Packard Eight lines. The One-Twenty had in production for seven years and 175,027 examples were produced.
By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2010
| American Classics from the Richard and Linda Kughn Collection Featured at RM's Annual Michigan Sale | |
 | • RM Auctions returns to Plymouth, Michigan, July 27, for its well-established St. John's sale • Single-day auction in automotive heartland features more than 80 historic collector cars • Sale headlined by a wonderful selection of automobiles from the distinguished collection of Richard and Linda Kughn • Auction acts as prelude to the Concours d'Elegance of America at St. John's on Sunday, July 28 BLENHEIM, Ontario (May 7, 2013) – RM Auctions, the official auction house of the Conc...[Read more...] |
| Magnificent Series of Coachbuilt Classics To Grace RM's Amelia Island Concours D'Elegance Sale | |
 | • RM Auctions returns as the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance, March 9, 2013 • Single-day sale features breathtaking roster of more than 80 investment-quality collector cars • Notable highlights include an outstanding series of coachbuilt classics headlined by a multi-million-dollar 1935 Duesenberg Model SJ Walker-LaGrande Convertible Coupe and a trio of Cords from the personal collection of Jim Fasnacht • Frequently updated list of entries available online at r...[Read more...] |
| Barrett-Jackson Generates Nearly $109 Million In Sales | |
 | • Sets Record Attendance At The 42nd Annual Scottsdale Auction • Batmobile sells for $4.62 million dollars to a lifelong fan to worldwide audience; marks second-highest single-car sale at Barrett-Jackson •1,343 cars sold •$108,766,069 gross sales – A 17% increase over 2012 •300,000 in attendance •Charity cars – 21 total for $5,005,000 Scottsdale, Ariz. – Jan. 22, 2013 – Barrett-Jackson Auction Company, The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions™, generated nearly $1...[Read more...] |
| Sold! Barrett-Jackson's 5000 Series Generates More Than $29.2 Million In Scottsdale | |
 | Original 1966 TV Batmobile Sells for $4.62 Million at The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions™ and New World Records are Set January 19, 2013 •LOT #5037 The Original Batmobile is the highest selling car at the company's annual Scottsdale Auction •LOT #5019 1947 Talbot-Lago T-26 Grand Sport sets a new world record for the model •LOT #5034 1956 Chrysler Diablo Concept Convertible sets a new world record for Chrysler concept cars Scottsdale, Ariz. (Jan. 20, 2013) – Barr...[Read more...] |
| Final Countdown Underway to RM's Michigan Sale | |
 | RM Auctions, the official auction house of the Concours d'Elegance of America, has secured a wonderful selection of classic automobiles for its St. John's sale, July 28, in Plymouth, Michigan. Hosted on the beautiful grounds of the Inn at St. John's, the single-day sale is a mainstay on the auction concours circuit and boasts a reputation for including exceptional American classics. The upcoming sale, featuring more than 70 quality collector cars, presents nearly a century of American and Eu...[Read more...] |
 1938
Packard
models |
| Packard 1604 Super Eight |
| Packard 1605 Super Eight |
| Packard 1607 Twelve |
| Packard 1608 Twelve |
| Packard Formal Town Car Art-Carved Hearse |
| Packard Super Eight |
| Similar Automakers | |
| Auburn | Daimler |
| Delage | Delahaye |
| Duesenberg | Hispano Suiza |
| Hudson | Isotta |
| Peerless | Pierce Arrow |
| Talbot-Lago | Voisin |
| Similarly Priced Vehicles from 1938 |
| Buick Series 80 Roadmaster ($1,645-$1,983) |
| Lincoln Series 86H Zephyr ($1,300-$1,795) |
| LaSalle Series 50 ($1,295-$1,825) |
| Buick Series 40 Special ($945-$1,406) |
| Buick Series 60 Century ($1,226-$1,713) |
Average Auction Sale: $97,750 |
| Packard: 1931-1940 |
| Similar Automakers |
| Packard History |
| Other models by Packard |
| 180 200 250 3-35 Fourth Series | 300 38 645 745 | 845 Caribbean Cavalier Clipper | Custom Eight Eight Four Hundred Model 18 | Model 30 Model F One-Twenty Patrician | Six Super Deluxe Twelve |
