1938 Packard 1605 Super Eight Sedanca de Ville

Once a year in the late 1930s and early 1940s, a one-of-a-kind formal Packard traveled down the two-lane highways of the east coast from north to south. At the wheel was a liveried chauffeur, Walter Bibby, who wore his black uniform from the time the car left 38 Roxborough Drive, Toronto, until reaching his employer's winter home in Palm Beach, Florida. He would then change into appropriate attire for the Florida coast, cream linen, and collect his employers at the rail station. Harry C. Hatch and family had arrived in Palm Beach flush with the wealth that came from leading the Hiram Walker distillery through Prohibition. Vacation could now commence.

This car is a Series 1605 with a 139-inch wheelbase. It is powered by a 130 horsepower 320 cubic inch L-head inline eight-cylinder engine coupled to a three-speed manual transmission. Suspension is a coil-spring independent front suspension, with a live rear axle, semi-elliptical leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. The interior is swathed with Connolly leather for the driver and soft broadcloth for the passengers.

This 1938 Packard Super Eight has a Sedanca deVille body built by Barker. During the late 1930s and early 1940s, this Packard was driven from Toronto to Palm Beach, Florida by a chauffeur, Walter Bibby. He would then collect his employers and the owners of the vehicle, Harry C. Hatch and family, at the rail station.

Around World War II, it is believed the car was sold by the Hatches and, in 1961, was sold by a Toronto dealer to George and Sheila Van Nostrand, of Keswick, Ontario. Ed Suddath acquired it in 1986 after several documented intervening owners and completed its restoration. Upon completion of the work, the car was shown at the 1989 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance where it won a class award.

Richard Livoni of Long Beach, California, acquired the car in 1990. While in his care, it achieved CCCA Senior number 1761 with 99 points in 1993 and numerous First Place and Best in Class awards at West Coast concours d'elegance.

In the late 1990s, the car was acquired by its current owner. In 2009, it was shown at the Pebble Beach Concours.

By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2015