Vehicle number 1807-2012, this exceedingly rare Packard Custom Super Eight One-Eighty Convertible Sedan by Darrin was originally delivered by the Earle C. Anthony showroom in San Francisco on 19 July 1940. Darrin historian Don Figone recounted to the current owner that he first saw the car in San Francisco in 1953, wearing Florida license plates and owned by an Army officer. It was acquired around that time by Robert D. Ford, an early enthusiast in Northern California, who retained ownership until 1965 and then sold the car to Lorin Tryon, longtime co-chair of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Mr. Tryon sold the Packard in 1969 to J.B. Nethercutt; during its time in the renowned Nethercutt Collection, the car was among those featured in the book, San Sylmar.

In 1978, the car was among those traded to Tom Barrett on the Duesenberg Model SJ “Twenty Grand,” today one of the Nethercutt Collection’s greatest and most important treasures. While being carried away on a flatbed to its new home, it was spotted by collector Walt Shearer of Camarillo. Mr. Shearer promptly took chase, later recounting to Car Collector magazine that he chased the truck down the freeway and through suburban neighborhoods, before the truck driver finally pulled over to see what, exactly, his pursuer was up to. Told that it had been traded on a Duesenberg, he called Mr. Barrett the very next morning and secured the purchase of the Darrin.

One of the longest-term denizens of the Shearer collection, the car was sold in 2000 to respected longtime collector Henry Petronis of Easton, Maryland. The Packard was purchased by the current owner from Mr. Petronis in 2016. Soon after, a fresh concours-level restoration, in the year-correct Packard color of Sea Cloud Gray, was completed in the owner’s own shop, with the owner noting that the car was completely disassembled and all components professionally refinished; he further notes that every part on the car has been either rebuilt or correctly replaced, with numerous Packard Darrin specialists contributing parts and expertise to the effort. It presents as the beautiful fresh restoration that it is, with an expertly fitted leather interior and convertible top, and fine-quality, crisp dashboard with clear, beautifully finished gauges; indeed, the car has not been shown since completion of the work.

One of just nine surviving Convertible Sedans by Darrin, this extraordinary Packard of outstanding provenance and beauty is now offered fresh to market, with the joy of presenting it to concours judges awaiting a new owner.