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The Packard Twelve of the 1930’s was the epitome of luxury cars and the standard bearer of Packard. Produced from 1932 through 1939, the twelve-cylinder model, initially called the Twin-Six but eventually just Twelve, were silky smooth powerful cars offered in a choice of standard bodies, semi-custom and full custom body options. They didn’t sell in big numbers because of the impact of the Great Depression on luxury goods but they remained in production as long as they did to uphold the image of Packard as the leader in the luxury car market.
The Twelve for 1937 was the first of the model to receive hydraulic brakes, independent front suspension and doors hinged on the front post opening toward the rear. Styling, in keeping with Packard tradition, was evolutionary from previous years, a little of the old and a bit more new. The combination of styling, improved mechanicals and significantly improved economic outlook resulted in the biggest sales year yet for the model. Of the 5,523 twelve-cylinder cars produced in the 1930’s, 1300 were from the 1937 model year, or as Packard called them, the Fifteenth series. This was the best sales year of the entire 8 year model run.
To appreciate the level of luxury represented by the Twelve in 1937 you need to compare it to the entry level Six. The Six Touring Sedan was priced at $910 and rode on a 115” wheelbase. The base Twelve Touring sedan was priced at $3,490 and rode on a 132 ¼” wheelbase. The Twelve Touring Sedan was the lowest priced and smallest offering in the model line. At the top of Twelve offerings was the All Weather Town Car on a 144 ¼” wheelbase and priced at a whopping $5,900. That price was just slightly higher than the average cost of a house in 1937.
While Packard management was pleased with the sales performance of the Twelve and its stable mates Super Eight and Eight, also known as the Senior cars in 1937, it was the mid-priced One-Twenty model that was now the bread and butter car for Packard. 1937 sales convinced management to do a more involved update of the styling of the Sixteenth Series, 1938 Senior cars, but sales of these top of the line luxury cars would never reach the levels of 1937 again. -
Company
Packard Motor Car Company
Make
Packard
Model
Twelve, 1507
Body Style
Coupe Roadster, 2-door, 2/4-pass., Style 1039
Body Manufacture
Murry Manufacturing Co. / Dietrich Inc
Model year
1937, Fifteenth Series
Wheelbase
139.25 inches
Length
230 inches
Engine
V12, 473.3 cid
Horsepower
175 @ 3200 rpm
Transmission
3-speed manual
Original Base Price
$3,450
Brand Production
122,500 Fifteenth Series
This Car Production
1,300 (All Twelve body styles) -
Packard had a very successful export business, shipping cars to 61 countries and this car is an example. Originally sold in Italy through the Franco Bandera dealership in Legnano near Milan, the first owner was Marc Droulers, a textile industry tycoon and the owner of the Lake Como Grand Hotel Villa d’Este in Cernobbio (Italy).
After World War II, the car was sold to the Trenno Company in Montecatini Terme where it was unceremoniously modified to serve as the starter gates for a horse racing track. Two large folding outriggers were mounted on the rear of the car each with hanging markers to indicate the lanes on the track. The horses would line up behind the car in their assigned lane and the car would lead the horses to a running start. When the starting point was reached, the outriggers would fold up and out of the way and the horses would take-off at full gallop. Understandable why they needed such a big and powerful car to accomplish this but a sad fate for such a regal automobile.
After many years of service to the race track the car was, so to speak, put out to pasture in a barn and mostly forgotten. It was found in 1980 by a Bologna area collector who purchased the car. The car eventually found its way to the NB Center collection in 2002. It was sent to the U.S. shops in Allentown, PA for a complete restoration. Upon completion of the restoration the car was shown at the Pebble Beach concours d’Elegance before it was returned to the Italy garages.