1928 Packard Model 443 Eight Town Car

There is no disputing that the Packard Motor Car Company enjoyed its glory days in the 1920s and 1930s. Packard automobiles were American luxury automobiles built by the Packard Motor Company of Detroit, Michigan. The first Packard automobiles were produced in 1899, and the last true Packard left the assembly line in 1956.

1928 was a truly outstanding year for Packard, not only in the United States but also in many other countries. In fact, they were highly competitive abroad, with markets in 61 countries. The gross income for the company in 1928 was $21,889,000.

Packard offered nine standard models in the Custom Eight Series for 1928, all riding on a 143-inch wheelbase and powered by a 383 cubic-inch straight-eight engine that produced 109 horsepower.

For those with more discerning tastes and a larger pocketbook, custom coachwork on an individual chassis was available. Packards were often the choice for VIP's with discriminating tastes and numerous American celebrities and business tycoons.

This one-off town car was built by Rollston, Inc. and was ordered new by Cornelius Kelly, who took delivery in June of 1928. Kelly was president and chairman of the Board for Anaconda Copper Company of Pennsylvania. Kelly kept the car until his passing in 1957. Though it was restored in 1984, it retains its original upholstery in the passenger compartment. Its previous owner kept the car for more than 40 years.