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1938 Packard 1608 Twelve Navigation
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 touring 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 the buyer's premium.By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2013
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 touring 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 the buyer's premium.By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2013
2013 RM Auctions - Arizona
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $150,000-USD $200,000
Sale Price :
USD $132,000
1938 Packard 1608 Twelve Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Packard 1608 Twelve
(Data based on Model Year 1938 sales)
1938 PACKARD TWELVE CONVERTIBLE SEDAN Chassis#: 11532026 Sold for USD$150,700 2023 Barrett-Jackson : Scottsdale, Az. | |
1938 Packard Twelve Phaeton by Derham Sold for USD$250,000 2021 RM Sothebys : Hershey | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Packard Twelve Touring Cabriolet by Brunn Sold for USD$121,000 2019 RM Sothebys : Hershey | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Packard Twelve 1608 Touring Limousine Chassis#: A600062 Sold for USD$66,000 2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale, Arizona | |
1938 Packard Twelve Touring Cabriolet by Brunn Chassis#: 1608-2007 Sold for USD$132,000 2018 RM Sothebys : Hershey | ![]() |
1938 Packard Twelve 1608 All-Weather Cabriolet Chassis#: 608 2022 Sold for USD$280,500 2018 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Packard 1608 Sold for USD$122,500 2018 GAA : July 2018 | |
1938 Packard Twelve Landaulet by Rollston Chassis#: 1608-2025 Sold for USD$224,000 2018 RM Sothebys : Scottsdale, Az. | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Packard Twelve Sedan Sold for USD$66,000 2015 Auctions America - California | |
1938 PACKARD 1608 TWELVE CONVERTIBLE SEDAN Sold for USD$143,000 2015 Bonhams Amelia Island Auction | ![]() |
1938 Packard Twelve Model 1608 All-Weather Cabriolet Chassis#: 608 2022 Sold for USD$440,000 2014 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Packard Twelve All-Weather Town Car by Rollston Chassis#: 1135-2005 Sold for USD$121,000 2014 Motor City Auction by RM Auctions | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan Chassis#: 1153-2019 Sold for USD$198,000 2014 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Packard V-12 Coupe Sold for USD$60,500 2013 Auctions America - Ft Lauderdale | |
1938 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan Chassis#: 600583 Sold for USD$132,000 2013 RM Auctions - Arizona | ![]() |
1938 Packard Twelve All-Weather Collapsible Cabriolet by Brunn Sold for USD$137,500 2012 RM Auctions - Hershey, PA | |
1938 Packard Twelve Convertible Coupe Chassis#: 11392020 Sold for USD$165,000 2011 RM Auctions - Concours d'Elegance at St. Johns | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan Chassis#: A600520 Sold for USD$167,750 2010 RM Auctions - Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook | ![]() ![]() |
1938 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan Sold for USD$198,000 2009 Vintage Motor Cars of Hershey by RM Auctions | |
1938 Packard 1608 Twelve Chassis#: 411472 Sold for USD$99,000 2009 Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook | ![]() ![]() |
Packard 1608 Twelves That Failed To Sell At Auction
1938 Packard 1608 Twelve's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1938 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan | 1608-1153 | 2022 Mecum Indy | $150,000 | ||
1938 Packard Twelve Touring Cabriolet by Brunn | A600485 | 2019 Auburn Spring : RM Auctions | $125,000 | $150,000 | |
1938 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan | 2018 RM Sothebys : Hershey | $150,000 | $175,000 | ||
1938 Packard Twelve All-Weather Cabriolet by Brunn | 2018 RM Sothebys : Fort Lauderdale | $100,000 | $125,000 | ||
1938 PACKARD TWELVE BRUNN ALL WEATHER CABRIOLET | 2017 Dragone Lime Rock Park | $200,000 | $225,000 | ||
1938 Packard Twelve 1608 Convertible Victoria | 1608-2030 | 2017 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | $650,000 | $750,000 | |
1938 Packard Twelve Custom Landaulette | 16082025 | 2013 Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction | $475,000 | $550,000 | |
1938 PACKARD 1708 LIMOUSINE | 2011 Auctions America Fort Lauderdale | $59,000 | |||
1938 Packard 1608 Convertible Sedan | 2009 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia | $140,000 | $160,000 | ||
1938 Packard 1608 Twelve Brunn | 2006 Gooding & Company Pebble Beach Auction | $150,000 | $225,000 |
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1938 Packard 1608 Twelve
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