1929 Packard 645 Deluxe Eight Roadster

By any measure, 1929 was the best year in Packard's history. Their name was golden but unlike some of the other fine carmakers, they had the volume to back up their reputation, selling just under 50,000 cars in 1928 and about 55,000 in 1929. As The Packard Story says of 1925, 'While other makers of luxury cars faded away, one by one, Packard grew richer and stronger.'

This car was originally purchased on June 28, 1929, by Mrs. Minnie Richards of Brooklyn, New York. The base price was $3,390 plus $101 for transportation. She added wire wheels for $90, two additional tires, a deluxe emblem, a step plate, trunk and cover, two tire mirrors, giant bumpers, and a bugle horn. By the time she purchased license plates, for an additional $24, the price soared to $3,979.

This Dietrich Roadster sits on Packard's longest wheelbase of 145 inches. The model number derives from 1929 being the 6th series of Packard Eights combined with the last two digits of the wheelbase, hence 6-45. The custom coachwork by Dietrich foretold the factory body styling for 1930, with the new more modern beltline and other improvements. The roadster was a popular body style in the 1920s; Packard would build them only through the 1931 model year, switching to an enclosable style with roll-up windows in 1932.

The current owner acquired the car in 2009 and commissioned its restoration.