Lot 252

Hershey 2023

1937 Packard Twelve 2/4-Passenger Coupe

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$160,000 - $180,000 USD | Not Sold

United States | Hershey, Pennsylvania

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Vehicle No.
1038 214
Engine No.
905963
Documents
US Registration
  • One of less than 50 examples built with stylish three-window coupe coachwork
  • One of fewer than 10 known survivors
  • Features correct 473 cu.-in. V-12 engine
  • Benefits from well-maintained 1990s restoration
  • Beautifully presented example of the Model 1507 Twelve

Packard introduced several important advances in 1937, including front independent suspension and hydraulic brakes. Three different wheelbase lengths were offered for the Twelve chassis in 1937, with the Model 1507 adding seven inches to the shortest wheelbase. Eight different coachwork styles were available for the Model 1507, including the rare three-window 2/4-passenger coupe.

Chassis number 1038 214 is believed to be one of fewer than 50 examples of a 15th Series Twelve chassis to be mounted with the factory’s sporty 2/4-passenger coupe coachwork, with very few known to have survived. Equipped with a rumble seat, Trippe lights, radio, and a deluxe heater with defroster, the Packard was sold new by the Packard Motor Company of Delaware to Wilmington resident William Fenn, a contractor for DuPont. In 1939, the Twelve passed to Frank Ewing, and he parked the car circa 1941 for a prolonged period of storage that lasted until July 1970, accounting for nearly 30 years of uninterrupted preservation.

Next acquired by Harold and Betty Bujwit of Lowell, Indiana, the three decades-long slumber led to the Packard needing some restorative attention. By 1984 the Twelve was sold to Jeff Peace of Lafayette, Indiana, and five years later he sourced new gears from the legendary Hill and Vaughn for a rebuild of the rear end. The final drive ratio was modified to 3.58:1 to result in a greater top speed, and during subsequent testing the car exceeded 71 mph—showing an improvement of 11 mph.

In 1989 the Model 1507 was purchased by Chad and Barbara Hunt of Saratoga, California, who reportedly commissioned a body-off restoration and engine rebuild, after which the car won first prize at a Packard National Meet. The car is believed to have passed to two additional owners before being acquired in 2018 by a Connecticut-based enthusiast who retained marque specialist Parker’s Packards in late 2020 for mechanical freshening, which included a rebuild of the front brakes and shock absorbers. The Twelve has since been driven on a small handful of touring events.

Believed to have accrued roughly 1,000 miles since its 1990s restoration while powered by its rebuilt, smooth-running 473 cubic-inch V-12 engine, this handsome Packard is an ideal candidate for CARavan tours, having been designated as a Classic Car Club of America Full Classic. As one of fewer than 10 known surviving examples to feature the rakish three-window coupe body on the 15th Series Twelve chassis, this stylish Packard claims rarity and superb presentation, offering a splendid acquisition for any marque enthusiast or prewar American automobile collector.