1938 Packard 1605 Super Eight Convertible Sedan

The Dietrich label was typically reserved for custom, full-bodied, and specially ordered cars from Packard. By this time, Packard was doing most of its coachwork in-house. This beautiful Dietrich Convertible Sedan is both big and sleek. The coachwork is typical of Dietrich. This essentially left Lincoln, Cadillac, and Packard as the only survivors of the sinking luxury car market.

Styling changes were evident on the Packard Super Eight for 1938. Fenders were pontoon-style and the windshield featured a split-vee. Sales of the Super Eight and Twelve remained low, however, compared to the popular (and more affordable) sixes and small eights.

Seventeen different body styles were available on the Super Eight chassis, including this convertible sedan, which was built on a 139-inch wheelbase chassis. Power was supplied by Packard's 320 cubic-inch inline eight that developed 130 horsepower.

The year 1938 was nearing the end of the line for the older 8-cylinder engine, with a new design coming out shortly. This model, with its eight and its Dietrich styling, was a very practical car for its time.

This Sixteenth Series Model 1605 5-passenger Convertible Sedan was the most expensive in the Packard line and was purchased new by a doctor from New Jersey at the Longacre Square Packard dealership on Broadway in New York City to be the family's summer car on the Jersey Shore.

One day the doctor hit another vehicle, probably a truck, doing minor damage, particularly to the front fenders. He was a tinkerer and tried to fix it himself but gave up after removing the radiator shell and fenders. The car sat for years in that condition in his garage. Shortly after he passed away, the garage burned but the car was saved when firefighters yanked it out of the garage by the back bumper. It then sat outside for a few more years, right where the firefighters had left it. When the doctor's wife passed, the estate was settled and the Packard was hastily put back together and sold.

This car has a Dietrich-designed factory Packard body and is powered by a 320 cubic-inch, 130 horsepower, inline 8-cylinder engine mated to a three-speed synchromesh transmission.

The car passed through a few hands over the years but was left in its disassembled condition. The current owner acquired the car in that rather sad shape and had it restored at LaVine Restoration in Nappanee, Indiana, returning it to its former glory.