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1938 Packard 1608 Twelve background image

1938 Packard 1608 Twelve Convertible Sedan

  • Coachwork by Dietrich
  • Chassis Number: 600583
  • Engine Number: A-600583
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

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 1608 Twelve image  1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  
1938 Packard Twelve Touring Cabriolet by Brunn
Sold for USD$121,000
  2019 RM Sothebys : Hershey
1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  
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 1608 Twelve image  
1938 Packard Twelve 1608 All-Weather Cabriolet
Chassis#: 608 2022
Sold for USD$280,500
  2018 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  
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 1608 Twelve image  1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  
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 1608 Twelve image  
1938 Packard Twelve Model 1608 All-Weather Cabriolet
Chassis#: 608 2022
Sold for USD$440,000
  2014 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach Concours
1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  
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 1608 Twelve image  1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  
1938 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan
Chassis#: 1153-2019
Sold for USD$198,000
  2014 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona
1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  
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 1608 Twelve image  
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 1608 Twelve image  1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  
1938 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan
Chassis#: A600520
Sold for USD$167,750
  2010 RM Auctions - Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook
1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  
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
1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  1938 Packard 1608 Twelve image  

Packard 1608 Twelves That Failed To Sell At Auction

1938 Packard 1608 Twelve's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
VehicleChassisEventHigh BidEst. LowEst. High
1938 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan1608-11532022 Mecum Indy$150,000  
1938 Packard Twelve Touring Cabriolet by BrunnA6004852019 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 Victoria1608-20302017 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach $650,000$750,000
1938 Packard Twelve Custom Landaulette160820252013 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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