1942 Packard Super-8 One-Eighty Convertible Coupe

By 1940 Darrin-customized Packards appeared in Packard advertising and were favorites of individuals who wanted something a bit more distinctive than Packard's regular offerings. One such individual was a western film actor and singer Gene Autry who purchased this car new in Dallas, Texas in 1942. Auto designer Howard 'Dutch' Darrin began customizing Packards at his Hollywood shop in the late 1930s but eventually shifted production to Connersville, IN where this car was built.

The Darrin-bodied Packard Model 180 rode on a 127-inch wheelbase and was powered by a 356 cubic-inch straight-8 engine offering 165 horsepower. It was fitted with a 3-speed transmission with overdrive. A base price of $4,595 limited sales to only the wealthy.

It was used by the popular star of over 90 movies and the hit radio show, 'Melody Ranch,' until 1951. This car was a part of the collections of several prominent car collectors, including Otis Chandler, Bob Turnquist, and Richard Kughn, who sold it to the current owner in 2014.

The last Packard Darrin built, it is the fifteenth of fifteen examples constructed in the 1942 model year. It is handsomely liveried in medium blue with a blue interior, brown carpets, and a blue top. It is fitted with a three-speed transmission with overdrive, radio, and a heater.