1934 Packard Twelve

This 1934 Packard Twelve is a Series 1108 example clothed in Dietrich Individual Custom Convertible Sedan coachwork and is said to have been sold new via Earle C. Anthony’s Los Angeles showroom. Car number 1108-26 was purchased from the estate of a Florida and New Hampshire steward by a Connecticut collector who retained it for 30 years before it was purchased by the Andrews Collection. A subsequent refurbishment performed between 2009 and 2010 by Steve Babinsky in Lebanon, New Jersey, included a repaint in Dark Auburn, a re-trim of the interior in tan leather, and an overhaul of the 445.5ci L-head V12. Following completion of the project the car won its class at the 2010 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and an Amelia Award at the 2011 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance before winning a CCCA Senior Award in 2012 and later appearing in the 2016 film Live By Night. Additional features include a dual-throat downdraft carburetor, a three-speed manual transmission, mechanically actuated drum brakes with variable vacuum assistance, adjustable ride-control suspension, 17” wire wheels, dual side-mount spares, a V-shaped windshield, a fold-down rear luggage rack, a tan convertible top, and a roll-up glass passenger compartment partition. Purchased by its current owning dealer in 2023, this 11th-series Dietrich Individual Custom Convertible Sedan is now offered in Texas by the seller on the owning dealer’s behalf with invoices from the refurbishment, awards, and a clean California title. In addition to a range of standard body styles, Packard offered a selection of custom designs by LeBaron or Dietrich on the Super Eight and Twelve platforms between 1932 and 1934. Along with the styling revisions integrated across the Packard range for 1934, Dietrich’s design touches for the 11th-series Twelve include a V-shaped windshield and hood panels that extended rearward over the cowl. Each of the Dietrich Individual Custom body configurations could be individualized with appointments to the buyer’s taste. This example’s Convertible Sedan coachwork was refinished in its current shade of Dark Auburn during the refurbishment performed by Steve Babinsky’s Automotive Restorations, who also replaced much of the wood framework. Additional work included welding repairs to the rear bodywork and rocker panels, adjustment of panel gaps, re-plating of various brightwork, and the fabrication of a replacement tan convertible top. Features include four doors hinged at the B-pillars, counterweighted front and rear bumpers, a body-color radiator shell, thermostatically controlled grille shutters, and a Goddess of Speed radiator mascot. Chrome wire wheels with body-color rims were refinished during the refurbishment and wear bright hubcaps and beauty rings as well as Bedford wide-whitewall bias-ply tires. Dual side-mount spares are housed under painted covers. Braking is handled mechanically by drums at all four wheels with servo assistance that can be adjusted in intensity via a switch on the dashboard. The re-trimmed cabin is appointed in tan leather over front and rear bench seats with matching upholstery over the door panels. A contoured window panel can be rolled up between the front and rear compartments, while additional features include color-matched carpeting, wood door caps, footwell vents, dual gloveboxes, dual wood rear ashtrays, and a rear robe rope. The simulated-wood-rimmed steering wheel sits ahead of a woodgrain dash panel housing Waltham instrumentation including a 120-mph speedometer, a clock, and gauges monitoring oil pressure, fuel level, coolant temperature, and amperage. The five-digit odometer shows 200 miles, a few of which have been added under current ownership. The 445.5ci V12 features an integrated block and crankcase, a 67° angle between cylinder banks, side valves, and a dual-throat Stromberg downdraft carburetor. Output was factory rated at 160 horsepower. The engine was overhauled during the refurbishment with work including resurfacing the cylinder heads, grinding the valves, repouring the babbitt bearings, and the replacement of the pistons, rings, timing chain, and valve seats. The radiator was re-cored, and the carburetor, generator, and water pump were rebuilt. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a floor-shifted three-speed manual transmission that was overhauled during the project, which also included a rebuild of the rear axle with the installation of 4.06:1 differential gears. Front and rear suspension incorporates leaf-sprung solid axles with double-acting hydraulic lever-arm shock absorbers that have been rebuilt and can be adjusted for firmness via the Ride Control knob under the dash. The chassis also features a Bjiur automatic lubrication system that was rebuilt in 2010.