1934 Packard 1108 Twelve Sedan Limousine

The Packard Motor Company enjoyed a booming export business, including in Canada. By the mid-1930s, new Packards were being sent across the Detroit River into Windsor, Ontario, in knocked-down form. The cars were then assembled by the Packard Motor Car Company Ontario in Windsor, allowing them to be badged as 'Made in Canada' and sold to Canadian buyers free of hefty taxes.

Most of the Packards 'Made in Canada' were the One Twenty models introduced in 1935. A few of the more 'elite' Packard models were also sent to Canada, including this Seven-Passenger Limousine, style number 735. It has a divider window and Packard's longest 11-series chassis, the 147-inch wheelbase 1108.

This particular car is one of only two of those survivors that were assembled in Canada.

The history of this Packard has been traced back to Lyall Trenholm, of Arva, Ontario. He later sold it to Ken McGee and Ted MacPhail of Dorchester. It was placed into storage in 1969 and was not sold out of Canada until 2008 when it was acquired by a California resident.

Since the car has been in storage for most of its life, it remains in original, patinated condition, with paint that is original all the way down to the pinstripes; the front fenders have been repainted. All exterior trim is complete, and the car has only surface rust, with no body damage and only one small crack in a side window. The dashboard gauges are original and still functional behind unbroken original glass. The car rides on Packard's wooden artillery wheels which have been given new tires. The odometer shows just 64,000 miles.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2013