1930 Packard Series 745 Deluxe Eight Roadster

The Seventh Series Packards were introduced at the beginning of the Great Depression. Packard had prospered in the 1920s, but as fortunes changed sales began to decline. Very few 745 Roadsters were produced in 1930 as the 745 chassis was mainly used for larger Sedans and Victorias.

While the Great Depression took its toll on all auto manufacturers, Packard succeeded in maintaining a position of prestige in the American luxury market with its Seventh Series offerings, including the 745 Deluxe Eight Roadster. Powered by the 384 cubic-inch engine, the 745 was capable of 106 horsepower and a top speed of 80 mph. New for 1930 was a four-speed transmission and a centralized chassis lubrication system.

This car was originally owned by John Shibe, owner of the Philadelphia Athletics. It was then gifted to Cornelius McGillicuddy (aka Connie Mack), manager and part-owner of the Athletics baseball team.

The car was found in a Philadelphia-area salvage yard in 1954 but was never restored. It changed hands again in 1966 but sat outside a barn until being rescued in 1995. The restoration was completed in 1998 by Packard enthusiast Robert Thayer after 6,600 man-hours of labor.

The car was judged 100 points by SCCA in September 1998 and received Senior Status. It first attended the Pebble Beach Concours in 1998.

The Packard 745 Deluxe Eight rested on the longest available chassis with a wheelbase that measured 145.5 inches and was powered by a straight eight-cylinder, seven-main-bearing engine offering 105 brake horsepower. Packard offered 11 catalog body styles.

This particular 745 Deluxe Eight wears roadster coachwork featuring an exceptionally long hood and a relatively small passenger compartment. It is an authentic original, correct example that is believed to have been originally delivered to John Shibe of Philadelphia. He was a successful sporting goods manufacturer, the son of the inventor of the automated machine used to stitch baseballs, and part-owner of that city's Athletics baseball team.

The car was later given by Mr. Shibe to Cornelius McGillicuddy who was also a part-owner of the Athletics and their manager for decades. A farmer named Dallet acquired the car in the mid-1950s from a Philadelphia-area salvage yard. The car remained at his farm until the mid-1980s, spending many years outdoors under his lean-to in the cow pasture. The Dallet's heirs sold it to Mark Smith of Virginia, and at the time, the car was largely intact, although well-weathered throughout.

The car was subsequently sold to RM Sotheby's co-founder, Mike Fairbairn who retained the car until 1996, selling it to Robert Thayer. Mr. Thayer entrusted RM Auto Restoration to perform a three-year (approximately 6,000 man-hours) restoration in preparation for the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. The quality of the work was rewarded with a 1st in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours in 1998. It scored a perfect 100-point score at the CCCA Midwest Grand Classic that year. IN 2005, it was shown at the Hilton Head Concours where it received the People's Choice award. In 2015, it was brought to the Amelia Island Concours where it won an Amelia Award and 1st in class, followed by a return to the Pebble Beach Concours later that year.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2022