1934 Packard 1107 Twelve Convertible Victoria

This Packard Twelve 1107 Convertible Victoria was sold through the Santa Barbara Packard agency Hitchcock Motor Company. With Packard Vehicle Number 747-11, it is the very first Convertible Victoria produced for the Eleventh Series. It was originally sold to an individual living in Tiburon, California. It is believed to have remained in the care of its original owner until his passing, at which time it was sold to the family's lawyer.

In 1954, the car was purchased by George Boon. Many years later, in 1997, it was sold to Mr. Thomas Moretti. Over the next three years, the car was treated to a restoration. The original coachwork was refinished in its current factory-correct dark green and pinstripe of a lighter shade. There is a Haartz top, a dark green leather upholstery, and wood-grain trim.

In 2003, the Convertible Victoria made its debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. It participated in the Tour d'Elegance and then was on display in Class C-2, Packard 1925-1940 Open. It received First in Class.

In 2004, the Convertible Victoria was displayed at the Meadow Brook Concours and earned First in Class. The following year, the Packard again received Best in Class honors - this time at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance. It has also earned CCCA Senior Premiere status. It has received first place in the Primary, Senior, and Premier divisions all between 2003 and 2005 and has never scored less than a perfect 100 points.

The current owner has continued to show the vehicle, displaying it in 2012 at The Elegance at Hershey. It was awarded the trophy for the Most Elegant Pre-War Open American Car.

There are less than 10 surviving Model 1107 Convertible Victorias.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2013

LeBaron received its first major order from a United States manufacturer in 1924. That order was from Lincoln thus beginning a lifelong friendship between Edsel Ford and Ray Dietrich. Though Ford was able to persuade Dietrich to come to Detroit, Dietrich was unable to convince his partner, Ralph Roberts, of the idea of moving the firm to Michigan. Roberts was not interested, regardless of money, for fear of losing his company's identity. Reluctantly, in 1925, Dietrich sold his interest in LeBaron, moved to Detroit, and established Dietrich, Inc., where in no time Packard became his biggest customer. Half the stock in the new company was eventually sold to the Murray Body Company. When Dietrich sold out to Murray at the end of 1930, the Dietrich name remained a subsidiary of the company; thus, many Packard bodies that had been designed by Deitrich, or bore traces of his influences, carry the Dietrich, Inc. body plate right up through 1937.

This Convertible Victoria was delivered new by Hitchcock Motor Company, Santa Barbara, California on August 3rd of 1934 to a gentleman who lived in nearby Tiburon. Prior to being purchased by its current owners, it was in the possession of noted Packard collector Tom Moretti, who personally restored the car during a period of three years to its factory-correct dark green color with subtle green Haartz top. This car is the first of the Eleventh Series Packard convertible victorias produced and is powered by a 455 cubic-inch V-12 engine offering 160 horsepower. Cost when new was $6,080.