1933 Packard Model 1004 Super Eight Convertible Victoria

384ci Side-Valve Inline 8-Cylinder Engine
Single Carburetor
145bhp at 3,200rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission
Front and Rear Leaf Spring Suspension
4-Wheel Servo-Assisted Drum Brakes

*High quality Packard from the peak of the classic era
*Long Show Circuit career in the early 2000s
*Former AACA National Premier Award Winner
*CCCA Full Classic™

THE PACKARD EIGHT

Always built to the highest standards, the Packard was unquestionably one of the finest American cars of the pre-war era. First introduced in 1924, the Eight was notable as the first Packard to employ four-wheel brakes. Its side-valve straight-eight engine developed 85bhp from 5.9 liters, and the model Eight line-up initially comprised ten models on two wheelbase lengths. In 1927 the engine was enlarged to 6.3 liters and a smaller 5.2-liter Standard Eight introduced for 1929, the larger engine continuing to power the Custom and DeLuxe Eights. The latter was re-christened 'Super Eight' for 1933, by which time all Packards featured synchromesh transmissions.

Built on the 142-inch wheelbase, the model 1004 was offered with 13 individual body styles. Arguably, none were more in tune with the coachbuilding fashions of its era than the Convertible Victoria. The more austere times and trends perhaps dictated a shift towards all-weather designs, allowing one car to suit multiple climate conditions, rather than needing a stable of bespoke automobiles each with a specific purpose. For this fashionable style Packard turned to the styling and coachbuilding firm Dietrich, Inc. of Detroit, Michigan. Founded by Raymond Dietrich, the firm reached a mythic status with their handsome and innovative styling, and Dietrich became a frequent collaborator with Packard; their designs as applied to these chassis today represent some of the most revered models of the Classic era.

1933 Packards are wonderfully made and styled automobiles - it was only a shame there were so few who could afford to buy them. 10th series production totaled a meager 4,800 units, a far cry from the 16,613 for the 9th series, and way down from the nearly 55,000 sold in 1929. The 10th series would represent Packard's smallest output of the Classic era. Priced at $3,440, the Convertible Victoria was one of the more expensive body styles available and would no doubt have only accounted for a modest percentage of the 788 Eight chassis built. It is believed that far less than 100 Convertible Victorias were produced in 1933.

THE MOTORCAR OFFERED

Presented here is an example that is well-known for being one of the finest of its model to survive. Delivered new in January 1933 according to its vehicle identification plate on the firewall, its destination is sadly illegible by now, and subsequent early history has eluded archivists. However, we do know that by the mid-1990s it was fortunate to arrive in the hands of Tom Weatherford of Diablo, California who appreciated the looks of its design so much that he lavished a comprehensive restoration on it. Lasting some three years from start to finish and reportedly costing in excess of $400,000 (at 23 year ago labor rates), the result of this work can still be seen today.
On completion of its rebuild, it began a career on the show circuit which has continued a legacy right through to now. The maiden outing produced a First in Class and Best in Show at the 1999 Ironstone Concours setting the tone for future events. A CCCA Grand Classic showing in 2000 gifted it a 100-point scoring, and it narrowly missed out on a Class win on the peninsula here, taking 2nd Place in its category at that year's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance.
In 2002 when perhaps it might have been thought that its show circuit was complete it migrated to fresh ownership and the awards perpetuated. At Hershey that year, it was graced with its AACA National First (Junior), succeeded by a Senior in 2003 and Premier award the following year. The successive custodians of the car have also prized its condition, with this, the most recent owning it since 2013.