1939 Coachcraft Roadster

This car is the first vehicle custom-built by Coachcraft. Commissioned by Hollywood socialite Paul Planette, the car was built in late 1939 and early 1940. Planette was a ladies' man and an active 'player' on the Hollywood social scene. In a time when actors such as Clark Gable had special cars built to their own specifications, Planette followed suit by commissioning Coachcraft, the craftsman behind many of the Packard-Darrin vehicles, to build this custom Mercury-powered roadster.

Known as the 'doorless wonder', it has a 1939 Mercury chassis, rear fenders, and bumpers; 1940 Mercury grille, engine, dashboard; and custom bodywork by Coachcraft. Several years after the car was completed, Mr. Planette was involved in a serious accident which resulted in significant changes being made to the front of the car. In the mid-1970s, the car was found with a stream running through it. The current owner found the car in an old warehouse when he was 17 years old, back in the mid-1980s. The car has not been seen in public for almost fifty years.