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The Packard 734 Speedster was the brainchild of Col. Jesse Vincent, Packard's vice president of engineering. In a similar fashion to Hot Rods that would follow, the 734 rested on a shortened and narrowed chassis and was equipped with 19-inch wheels, a high-speed rear axle, finned three-leading-shoe brake drums, and a highly tuned 385 CID straight eight. The engine featured hemispherical combustion chambers, a ribbed exhaust manifold, a two-barrel Detroit Lubricator carburetor, and nine main bearings. With the optional high-compression head, the Speedster produced an impressive 145 horsepower. Not including the Duesenberg Model J, it was the most powerful automobile offered to the public in 1930.
The Packard 734 was available in five distinct body styles including the Victoria, Sedan, Roadster, Phaeton, and Runabout. The coachwork was built in Packard's own coachworks, where standard bodies were narrowed, sectioned, and trimmed. The Runabout had a boattail rear-end, minimal top, and staggered seating arrangement. The lightweight bodies and powerful engines allowed the 734 Speedster to achieve 60 mph in second gear and had a top speed in excess of 100 mph. This was an impressive accomplishment for a car of this era, not to mention one so well-appointed.
This particular example was sales order number 25977 which carries Packard Vehicle Number 184100 and body number 442-31. It left the factory painted Plymouth and Pilgrim Gray, with Ivory Drop Black moldings and a French Gray Double Deep pinstripe.
It is believed that the original owner of this car was David R. Williams of Tulsa Oklahoma. In 1940, it was purchased by Roy Mo. Brooks of West Palm Beach, Florida, who kept the car for two decades before selling it in 1960 to Mils B. Lane of Atlanta, Georgia. After two other owners, it was purchased in 1972 by the Craven Foundation of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Glenn Mounger of Bainbridge Island, Washington acquired it in 1986, followed by Ken McBridge of Washington in 1989. The current owner, Mr. Mounger, re-acquired it in 2000.
In 1961, while in the care of Mr. Lane, Alexis de Sakhnoffsky was commissioned to render this car (and the rest of his cars in his collection) in watercolor. The Packard Speedster, which had by then been repainted white with red wheels, had its profile reproduced in numerous publications.
M.H. 'Tiny' Gould of Trucksville, PA acquired it in 1969 and sold it in 1972 to the Graven Foundation. While in Mr. Gould's ownership, the Packard was restored and displayed at the 1971 CCCA Annual Meet, where it received 99.75 points and was awarded Best of Show Junior. The Graven Foundation acquired it at the Kirk White Automobile Auction held in Radnor, PA for the sum of $51,000, the top-selling lot of the day.
Soon after Mr. Mounger's second acquisition of the car, he commissioned a complete concours-quality restoration. The work was completed in 2002 and put on display at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it was exhibited for display only. Since then, it has been awarded a perfect 100-point score at the 2004 Pacific Northwest Grand Classic and has received major awards at other events.
Packard produced just 113 examples of the 734 Speedster. Of these, just 39 were originally sold with the Runabout body. Just 18 Runabouts are known to survive, of which just eight examples are believed to exist today with essentially original bodywork and correct Speedster components.By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2016
The Packard 734 was available in five distinct body styles including the Victoria, Sedan, Roadster, Phaeton, and Runabout. The coachwork was built in Packard's own coachworks, where standard bodies were narrowed, sectioned, and trimmed. The Runabout had a boattail rear-end, minimal top, and staggered seating arrangement. The lightweight bodies and powerful engines allowed the 734 Speedster to achieve 60 mph in second gear and had a top speed in excess of 100 mph. This was an impressive accomplishment for a car of this era, not to mention one so well-appointed.
This particular example was sales order number 25977 which carries Packard Vehicle Number 184100 and body number 442-31. It left the factory painted Plymouth and Pilgrim Gray, with Ivory Drop Black moldings and a French Gray Double Deep pinstripe.
It is believed that the original owner of this car was David R. Williams of Tulsa Oklahoma. In 1940, it was purchased by Roy Mo. Brooks of West Palm Beach, Florida, who kept the car for two decades before selling it in 1960 to Mils B. Lane of Atlanta, Georgia. After two other owners, it was purchased in 1972 by the Craven Foundation of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Glenn Mounger of Bainbridge Island, Washington acquired it in 1986, followed by Ken McBridge of Washington in 1989. The current owner, Mr. Mounger, re-acquired it in 2000.
In 1961, while in the care of Mr. Lane, Alexis de Sakhnoffsky was commissioned to render this car (and the rest of his cars in his collection) in watercolor. The Packard Speedster, which had by then been repainted white with red wheels, had its profile reproduced in numerous publications.
M.H. 'Tiny' Gould of Trucksville, PA acquired it in 1969 and sold it in 1972 to the Graven Foundation. While in Mr. Gould's ownership, the Packard was restored and displayed at the 1971 CCCA Annual Meet, where it received 99.75 points and was awarded Best of Show Junior. The Graven Foundation acquired it at the Kirk White Automobile Auction held in Radnor, PA for the sum of $51,000, the top-selling lot of the day.
Soon after Mr. Mounger's second acquisition of the car, he commissioned a complete concours-quality restoration. The work was completed in 2002 and put on display at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it was exhibited for display only. Since then, it has been awarded a perfect 100-point score at the 2004 Pacific Northwest Grand Classic and has received major awards at other events.
Packard produced just 113 examples of the 734 Speedster. Of these, just 39 were originally sold with the Runabout body. Just 18 Runabouts are known to survive, of which just eight examples are believed to exist today with essentially original bodywork and correct Speedster components.By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2016
2016 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $1,200,000-USD $1,500,000
Sale Price :
USD $2,090,000
1930 Packard Series 734 Eight Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Packard Series 734 Eight
(Data based on Model Year 1930 sales)
1930 Packard 'Model 734 Speedster' Runabout Chassis#: 184098 Sold for USD$417,500 2023 Bonhams : Quail | |
1930 Packard Eight Sedan Chassis#: 289803 Sold for USD$16,500 2023 Mecum : Kissimmee Summer Special 2023 | |
1930 Packard 734 Speedster Eight Phaeton Chassis#: 184100 Sold for USD$665,000 2019 RM Sothebys : The Guyton Collection | |
1930 Packard 734 Speedster Runabout Sold for USD$1,765,000 2019 Gooding & Company : Amelia Island | |
1930 Packard 734 Speedster Phaeton Chassis#: 184065 Sold for USD$1,127,500 2018 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1930 Packard 734 Speedster Runabout Chassis#: 184100 Sold for USD$2,090,000 2016 Gooding & Company : Pebble Beach | |
1930 Packard Speedster Eight Runabout Chassis#: 184012 Sold for USD$165,000 2014 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Arizona | |
1930 Packard 734 Speedster Phaeton Chassis#: 184065 Sold for USD$975,000 2012 Gooding and Company - Pebble Beach Auction | |
1930 Packard 734 Speedster Boattail Runabout Chassis#: 184089 Sold for USD$506,000 2011 RM Auctions at Monterey | |
1930 Packard 734 Speedster Runabout Chassis#: 184089 Sold for USD$187,000 2011 RM Auctions - Concours d'Elegance at St. Johns | |
1930 Packard Model 734 Boattail Speedster Chassis#: 184029 Sold for USD$181,500 2011 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Amelia Island | |
1930 Packard Boattail Speedster Sold for USD$99,000 2010 Auctions America : Auburn Collector Car Auction | |
1930 Packard 734 Sold for USD$121,000 2007 Vintage Motor Car Auction at Meadow Brook Hall | |
1930 Packard 734 Speedster Runabout Chassis#: 184089 Sold for USD$211,750 2005 Vintage Motor Cars at Meadow Brook Hall |
Packard Series 734 Eights That Failed To Sell At Auction
1930 Packard Series 734 Eight's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1930 Packard 734 Speedster | 184006 | 2017 Artcurial : Retromobile | $350,000 | $450,000 |
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1930 Packard Series 734 Eight
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