Vehicle Description
Vehicle No. 739-49
Engine No. 902230
Packard's Eleventh Series models of 1934 are widely considered some
of the finest American automobiles of the Classic Era. Chief among
them was the vaunted Twelve, the company's prestige leader,
featuring the wonderful V12 engine which the company had debuted in
1932. The modified L-head design displaced 445.5 cubic inches and
could develop 160 mph, enabling swift performance accomplished with
utter quiet and smoothness, and rested under an impressively long
hood ending at a radiator shell flanked by headlights with
matching, subtly vee'd headlamp lenses. Overall the appearance was
one of classic elegance and old-fashioned grandeur, but with a
definite performance edge... which was exactly what Packard had
desired to achieve.
Bodies on the Twelve were very well-designed and smartly tailored.
One of the most striking factory body styles produced for the
Eleventh Series Twelve was the Coupe Roadster, developed from a
custom convertible coupe design originally drawn by the great
Raymond Dietrich for LeBaron on the 1931 845 chassis. Mounted to
the 147-inch-wheelbase 1107 Twelve frame, the crisply-drawn lines
translated extremely well to the factory-built version, with a
relatively low windshield, close-coupled doors, as well as a highly
notable top design that folded nearly flush with the rear deck.
The 1107 Twelve Coupe Roadster was memorably featured in "Ask!,"
one of the most famous color advertisements from a year that saw
Packard produce several memorable examples, with a tagline inspired
by the firm's longtime slogan, "Ask the Man Who Owns One."
"Notice," the advertisement advised, "that, in appearance, this car
is unmistakably a Packard - with the famous identifying lines that
make Packard America's most distinctive car. Then drive this
Packard and ask it to do everything you would like a fine car to
do."
Of roughly fifty examples produced, only about twenty original and
authentic twelve-cylinder Coupe Roadsters of the Eleventh Series
remain in existence today. Many of these were carefully recorded by
the early Packard historian Edward J. Blend, himself the owner of
such a model, in his landmark 1977 book, The Magnificent Packard
Twelve of Nineteen Thirty-Four.
The example offered here is one such genuine Coupe Roadster,
recorded among the survivors in Mr. Blend's book; the book does not
indicate original delivery, but according to its reproduction
vehicle number tag, it was first sold in Springfield,
Massachusetts, on April 2, 1934. At the time of the Blend book's
publication, it was in the ownership of J.P. Jones of
Pennsylvania.
The Packard remained quietly hidden away for several years
following the Blend book's publication. It was then acquired in the
early 1980s by the renowned restorer and Pennsylvania native Chris
Charlton, known for his victories at the Pebble Beach Concours
d'Elegance and other events all over the country. After a decade
spent assembling the necessary parts and completing the restoration
of the chassis, sold the car to the late, well-known enthusiast,
Phil Bray of Michigan. Soon thereafter Mr. Bray passed the project
to the longtime CCCA member, Lonnie Fallin of Colorado, in 1992.
Mr. Fallin, a noted Packard aficionado who has owned and restored
several other outstanding, award-winning examples of the marque,
undertook a two-year restoration effort to complete the car.
The magnificent V12 was rebuilt by David Dunbar, who upgraded it
lightly with Arias pistons, moly rings, modern insert bearings, and
other subtle tweaks for improved touring reliability; to the same
end, a Phil Hill 3.58:1 high-speed rear end was fitted, allowing
the car to easily cruise at modern road speeds on the highway.
Bodywork was handled by Stan Francis of Howard, Colorado, with the
assistance of Gene Irvine, who supplied all the new body wood.
Final body preparation and paint were completed by the well-known
Colorado shop Color on Wheels, while Auto Weave Upholstery took on
the interior. Factory photographs were used to duplicate the
correct pinstriping and stitch patterns, ensuring authenticity and
accuracy throughout. Photographs in the file testify to the
thoroughness of the work.
Following its completion, the car achieved Senior Premier status in
CCCA National judging, including 100 points at the 1994 Rocky
Mountain Grand Classic, and was a class award-winner at the Packard
Experience at Hickory Corners, Michigan. It also proved extremely
successful in AACA competition, winning that organization's
national Joseph Parkin Award as the finest Packard exhibited in its
division in 1994. It continued to be well-maintained in superb
condition and was, accordingly, exhibited at the 2002 Pebble Beach
Concours d'Elegance. Mr. Fallin then began enjoying the car with
its performance in mind, taking part in several local tours as well
as in the national CCCA Autumn in the Adirondacks CARavan in
September 2010.
Part of the Academy of Art University Automobile Collection since
their acquisition from Mr. Fallin in early 2011, the Packard has
been extremely well-kept in their care, and despite its tour use
the restoration remains in marvelous, very high-point condition
with few signs of wear or age throughout. Panels are beautifully
fitted and the interior is nearly immaculate, especially the
magnificent woodgrained trim. At the time of cataloging, it had
recorded 9,058 miles, and radial tires have been fitted to the
chrome wire wheels for comfortable road touring should the new
owner wish to add to that figure. It is accompanied by its AACA
award badges from Mr. Fallin's ownership, the CCCA badges having
remained fixed to the car, as well as the aforementioned small
selection of restoration photographs.
Ideal for further concours competition or as an excellent entrant
to any number of touring events, including the CCCA's memorable
long-distance CARavans, this is a wonderful example of the classic
twelve-cylinder Eleventh Series Packard at its most elegant,
restored and maintained by owners who know and love these marvelous
models. It is worthy of the Packard name and of anyone who seeks to
own one.
