As the custom coachbuilding industry faded out of existence in the early 1940s, American luxury automakers slowly discontinued the factory-catalogued “semi-customs” that had topped their lines for over a decade. Packard was among the last to offer bodies by coachbuilders Rollson and LeBaron, with the latter being a division of Briggs by 1941, but it still produced beautifully appointed and largely hand-built bodies in limited numbers.

Most of LeBaron’s final Packard offerings were formal limousines, which were to be driven by a chauffeur. However, in 1941 only, an “owner-driver” variant, the Sport Brougham, could also be had. It was essentially Packard’s version of the Cadillac Series 60 Special, and it featured a striking design, with narrow chromed window frames and a “formal” rear window on the shorter 1907-series chassis, as well as a sumptuously appointed five-passenger interior. Only 99 Sport Broughams were built, and survivors are quite rare.

The car offered here, which is identified by its original firewall plate as vehicle number 1452-2063, is equipped with dual side-mounted spares and running boards, both of which were optional features in 1941, and it was sold new in Philadelphia. It was used in the classic 1972 Francis Ford Coppola film The Godfather. The car appears in a scene early in the film, as part of a group of cars lined up outside the Corleone family compound to attend Connie Corleone’s wedding. Alfran Productions, Mr. Coppola’s production company, rented the car from its owner of many years, the late Don Rook, as is documented by a letter on file that identifies this Packard by its vehicle number.

Mr. Rook was an active collector of both Packards and Chrysler “Letter Cars,” keeping his collections in large barns on the grounds of his bed and breakfast, the Raspberry Manor in Mena, Arkansas. After his passing in 2010, the collection was dispersed and this Sport Brougham was acquired for the Andrews Collection.

The car wears what is strongly believed to be its original factory paint, as well as a completely original interior, which is in remarkably good condition. While the engine number cannot be discerned, it is almost certainly the original unit, as its appearance is consistent with the patina found on the rest of the Packard. At one point, the Andrews family had been planning to make the car a reliable runner and driver by cleaning it up and using it “as-is,” but they simply never got around to the project, and they have decided to pass it to a new owner.

This handsome CCCA Full Classic is ideal for cleaning up, driving, and enjoying, or it could be the best possible basis for a complete restoration, as it is a solid survivor from the last days of coachbuilding, with its own special Hollywood connection.