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1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six Sport Phaeton

  • Coachwork by Dietrich
  • Chassis Number: 900331
  • Engine Number: 900362
  • Body Number: 5494
In 1931, Company President Alvan Macauley was successful at implementing his plan to bring custom coachbuilding in-house, despite the company's success in providing high-quality chassis for custom coachbuilders. Dietrich Inc. continued to build a few custom bodies for the senior Packards, and these cars are known today as the 'V-windshield custom Dietrichs.' The Dietrich Individuals Customs rested on Packard's longer 147.5-inch chassis, which offered plenty of room for the passenger compartment behind the long and graceful hood. They were giving the V-windshield, and the Dietrich trademark beltline. The Sport Phaeton body style was given a mechanism that activated the rear windshield. After raising the windshield from its hidden compartment, a pair of side wings swing out and hook to mechanisms recessed into the rear doors. When it is in the raised position, passengers can leave or enter the rear compartment easily, while the side windows swing out of the way.

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 of 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 traded him 5494, plus a cash difference. Reluctantly, Bob agreed to the deal on the condition that if Dick ever sold it, he would have the 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 with a dark violet exterior with a custom taupe-colored interior. Upon completion, the car made its restoration debut at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, where it was 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 the buyer's premium.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2012

2019 RM Sothebys : Monterey

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $750,000-USD $950,000 
Lot was not sold

2012 RM Auctions - Monterey

Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,100,000-USD $1,400,000 
Sale Price :
USD $946,000

1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six Auction Sales

Recent Sales of the Packard Model 906 Twin Six

(Data based on Model Year 1932 sales)
1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich
Chassis#: 900245
Sold for USD$1,050,000
  2021 RM Sothebys : Monterey
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six image  1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six image  
1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Sport Phaeton in the style of Dietrich
Chassis#: 900362
Sold for USD$374,000
  2018 RM Sothebys : Fort Lauderdale
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six image  1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six image  
1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Sport Phaeton in the style of Dietrich
Chassis#: 900 362
Sold for USD$440,000
  2015 RM Sotheby's Hershey Auction
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six image  1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six image  
1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich
Chassis#: 900104
Sold for USD$840,000
  2014 RM Auctions - Amelia Island
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six image  1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six image  
1932 Packard Individual Custom Eight Convertible Coupe
Chassis#: 194206
Sold for USD$313,500
  2012 RM Auctions - Monterey
 
1932 Packard Individual Custom Twin Six Sport Phaeton
Chassis#: 900331
Sold for USD$946,000
  2012 RM Auctions - Monterey
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six image  1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six image  
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six
Sold for USD$1,650,000
  2007 Vintage Motor Cars at Amelia Island
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six image  1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six image  
1932 PACKARD 906 DIETRICH SPORT PHAETON
Sold for USD$275,000
  2007 Barrett-Jackson - Scottsdale 2007
 

Packard Model 906 Twin Sixs That Failed To Sell At Auction

1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Sport Phaeton by Dietrich9003312019 RM Sothebys : Monterey $750,000$950,000
1932 Packard Twin Six Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich9001042018 RM Sothebys : Hershey $600,000$750,000
1932 Packard Twin Six 906 Individual Custom Convertible Sedan9002452017 Gooding & Co. : Scottsdale, AZ   
1932 Packard Dual Cowl Phaeton 2013 Mecum Auctions Monterey$500,000  
1932 Packard Twin Six 906 Sport Phaeton Dietrich Style 2012 Leake Auctions Tulsa$295,000  

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1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six

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Other Packard Model 906 Twin Six model years

1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six Vehicle Profiles

1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six vehicle information
Sport Phaeton
Coachwork: Dietrich
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six vehicle information
Sport Phaeton
Coachwork: Dietrich
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six vehicle information
Convertible Sedan
Coachwork: Dietrich
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six vehicle information
Convertible Sedan
Coachwork: Dietrich
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six vehicle information
Convertible Sedan
Coachwork: Dietrich
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six vehicle information
Sport Phaeton
Coachwork: Dietrich
Chassis #: 900331
Engine #: 900362
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six vehicle information
Convertible Sedan
Coachwork: Dietrich
Chassis #: 900245
Engine #: 900229
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six vehicle information
Sedan Limiousine
Chassis #: 900362
Engine #: 900 353
1932 Packard Model 906 Twin Six vehicle information
Convertible Sedan
Coachwork: Dietrich
Chassis #: 900104
Engine #: 900116