1939 Packard Twelve 1708 Convertible Sedan
The Packard Twelve was a range of V12-engined luxury automobiles built by the Packard Motor Car Company in Detroit, Michigan. The car was built from model year 1916 until 1923, then it returned 1933 until 1939. As a sign of changing times, the majority of second generation Packard Twelves received standard bodywork, with custom bodywork gradually losing favor. Many of the custom cars were actually only “semi-customs”, with Dietrich assembling Packard-made bodies with special touches.
One of the most admired of all classic cars, the Packard Twelve ended production in 1939. With only 446 built in this year, a 1939 Packard Twelve is a rare and highly desirable automobile, an important milestone in America’s automobile history.
This 1939 Packard Twelve 1708 is a convertible sedan model. Finished in Tavern Green with Balfour Green fenders over brown leather upholstery, the car is powered by a 473ci L-head V12 paired with a column-shifted three-speed manual transmission with overdrive.
Body-colored steel wheels with chrome trim rings and hubcaps are mounted with wide whitewall tires. Stopping power is provided by vacuum-assisted drums at all four corners, and the car rides on a coil-sprung independent front suspension with semi-elliptical leaf springs out back. Spares housed in body-colored hard covers are located on both front fenders.
The cabin features two rows of bench seats upholstered in brown leather with matching door panels and tan carpets. A central partition window operated by a crank handle divides front and rear-seat passengers. Additional amenities include dual locking front glove boxes along with a robe cord, a central armrest, and foot rests for rear-seat passengers. An ivory-colored three-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a faux-woodgrain dashboard housing a 120-mph speedometer, an analog clock, and auxiliary gauges.
With 175 horsepower this 1939 Packard Twelve Convertible Sedan will cruise effortlessly at modern highway speeds, cosseting its occupants in silence and luxury. It is of course a Classic Car Club of America Full Classic and is ideal for enjoying CCCA’s many highly regarded display and particularly touring events.
Very few classic automobiles combine the rarity, comfort, luxury, refined appearance and performance attributes of this Packard Twelve.
