The fourth 2/4-passenger coupe produced on the massive Packard Twelve chassis in its final year of production, vehicle no. 1238-2004 was sold to its first owner by the Bush-Morgan Motor Company of Pasadena, California, lavished with nearly all available factory accessories. In the mid-1960s it was purchased by Paul Clancy, a longtime member of the Classic Car Club of America, much-loved by his fellow enthusiasts for his colorful, ebullient manner, and for his dedication as editor of the Michigan Region’s award-winning magazine, Torque. He dubbed his Packard “Old Bigfoot” and ran it with pride and pleasure for over 40 years.

Ahead of his time, Mr. Clancy valued his Packard’s amazing original condition, and preserved it as such, replacing only what was necessary, such as the upholstery on the lower front seat cushion. Its accident- and rust-free body still carries much of its patinaed original paint, as well as early California lubrication stickers on the A-pillar and the original vehicle number plate on the firewall, while the undercarriage and engine are clean and exceptional. Invoices are on file for some $10,000 of recent recommissioning at Brian Joseph’s Classic & Exotic Service of Troy, Michigan.

It was only natural that, when Beverly Rae Kimes completed The Classic Car in 1990, Paul Clancy be one of the owners she interviewed, and that “Old Bigfoot” be among the Packards featured. Its owner was effusive in his praise. “The handling is impeccable. The clutch is as smooth as a schoolmarm’s leg. The ride is so majestic as to put you to sleep. The seat is the acme of comfort. When you sit in it, you feel like you are the lord of all you survey.”

We cannot say it better than that.