1910 Packard Model Thirty Demi Limousine

This 1910 Packard Model 30UC Open-Drive Limousine was offered for sale at the Vintage Motor Cars sale at Hershey, PA presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $150,000 - $200,000. It was offered without reserve and sold for a high bid of $192,500 including the buyer's premium.

It is powered by a T-head four-cylinder engine that displaces 431.9 cubic inches and produces 30 horsepower. There is a rear-mounted three-speed manual transmission and two-wheel mechanical brakes. The elegant Limousine body rests on a 123.5-inch wheelbase and has a solid front axle and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs in both the front and rear.

This car has had several prominent owners since new, befitting its elegant demeanor. Around the 1960s it was treated to a cosmetic restoration and painted in blue paint. It was sent to a museum where it was a static display piece of a number of years. Since that time the quality of the restoration has faded but is still in good condition considering its age. The paint has lost some of its luster, the leather seats are beginning to crack, and the horn bulb has hardened. The rear passenger compartment has weathered the years rather nicely. There are some stains and deterioration of the Bedford cord fabric. The chassis appears to be solid and the engine is reported to be in good mechanical condition.

This vehicle has a very rich history in Central Pennsylvania and was owned by Theodore Davis Boal. His family was the founders of Boalsburg, Pennsylvania and he was the organizer of the Boal Troop, a volunteer cavalry unit, which later became part of the Pennsylvania National Guard. This car was used as his transportation for many years; later it was used in parades and functions. It was entered in the Antique Automobile Derby of 1934 where it won second place in the four-cylinder class. After the event, many of the individuals present began conversations about forming an automobile club. This led to the formation of the Antique Automobile Club of America in Philadelphia in November 1935.

By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2007