LOT 20
1937 Packard Twelve 1507 2/4 Passenger Coupe Chassis no. 1038214 Engine no. 905963 (see text)
Estimate: US$180,000 - US$200,000
Lot 20
1937 Packard Twelve 1507 2/4 Passenger Coupe
1937 Packard Twelve 1507 2/4 Passenger Coupe
Chassis no. 1038214
Engine no. 905963 (see text)
Chassis no. 1038214
Engine no. 905963 (see text)
473.3ci L-head V-12 Engine
Single Stromberg EE-3 Carburetor
175bhp at 3,200rpm
3-Speed Manual Transmission
Safe-T-FleX Independent Front Suspension, Live Rear Axle
4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
*A grand and imposing twelve-cylinder Packard
*Delivered new to Wilmington, Delaware
*Finely maintained older restoration
*Wonderful black livery with green leather upholstery
*One of just 1,300 Twelves produced in 1937
THE PACKARD FIFTEENTH SERIES
By the mid-1930s, Packard was once again flying high. Recovering from the doldrums of earlier in the decade, volume production of the Junior models resurrected Packard's fortunes, with totals topping out at 122,500 cars for the year. While mid-priced models bolstered the balance sheets, the flagship Twelve remained an exclusive prospect for a select few buyers. For the Fifteenth Series of 1937, Packard fully embraced streamline design language with flowing, fully skirted fenders, soft curves, and a raked and painted radiator shell, all with Packard's typical assured elegance. The chassis was also modernized with smaller steel wheels and the adoption of the new "Safe-T-FleX" independent front suspension—further refining Packard's already renowned ride quality. The massive 473.3 cubic-inch L-head V12 produced 175 bhp in silken silence. However, the days of the multi-cylinder flagship were numbered, and despite its prestigious image, only 1,300 examples in all body styles were produced—a tiny fraction of Packard's annual output.
THE CAR OFFERED
Strikingly presented in black over green upholstery, this 1507 Twelve is a marvelous example of Packard's streamlined flagship. Delivered new to Wilmington, Delaware on December 1, 1936, it features the 2/4-Passenger Rumble Seat Coupe body designed and built by Packard's Detroit body shop, atop the grand 139 ¼" wheelbase chassis. This car was delivered new to William Fenn, a contractor for DuPont, before trading hands in 1939 to Mr. Frank Ewing of Wilmington, who drove the car for a few years before placing it in storage, where it remained through 1969. Subsequent owners included Harold Bujwit of Lowell, Indiana, Paul and Jeff Pence of Lafayette, Indiana, and Chad and Barb Hunt of Saratoga, California. It was during the Hunts' ownership that the car received its first full restoration.
Correspondence on file shows that the rear differential was changed to a highway-friendly 3.73 ratio using original Packard gears, and that the installed engine is a period-correct replacement. The current serial number, 905963, corresponds to published records as a 1937-specification V12. Since its restoration, the interior was refreshed in the mid-2010s with this fabulous green mottled leather and red piping—providing a distinctive contrast to the jet-black paintwork. Original features include a factory AM radio, heater, and defroster.
Few cars of the era approach the refinement and majesty of a Packard Twelve, as this stunning coupe so aptly demonstrates. Recognized as a Full Classic® by the Classic Car Club of America, it is widely eligible for tours and concours events, where its elegance and performance will undoubtedly shine.
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