A legend in the Packard community, the car offered here is 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, and was fitted 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. Mr. Clancy was highly regarded 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.

A visionary who was 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. This preservation has continued. Its original body still carries much of its patinated 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 recommissioning at the esteemed Classic & Exotic Service of Troy, Michigan.

It was only natural that, when Beverly Rae Kimes completed The Classic Car in 1990, Paul Clancy would be one of the owners she interviewed, and that “Old Bigfoot” would be among the Classics 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 wholeheartedly agree.