Auto Car | 1942 Packard Super-8 One-Eighty | The last Packard Darrin built, this car was originally owned by Gene Autry. It was used by the popular star of over 90 movies and the hit radio show, 'Melody Ranch,' until 1951. It is the fifteenth of fifteen examples constructed in the 1942 model year. It is handsomely liveried in medium blue with blue interior, brown carpets and blue top. It is fitted with a three-speed transmission with overdrive, radio and heater.
Howard 'Dutch' Darrin was a flamboyant designer, based in Hollywood. In 1939, after having successfully sold a handful of custom Darrin Packard's to celebrities such as Clark Gable, he proposed marketing his custom convertible as a glamour leader for the Packard brand.
Unfortunately production never achieved the numbers Darrin or Packard had hoped for. They were originally offered on the 120 and 180 chassis. Bodies were initially built by the Auburn Central Company, former manufacturer of Auburn cars. However, by 1941 they had a huge contract to build Jeep bodies for the military and couldn't built the low-volume Darrin bodies. Picking up the contract was Sayer and Scoville, of Cincinnati, a builder of professional cars and limousines. By 1942, they had become Hess and Eisenhardt and had instituted some small design changes to the cars.
The ultra-exclusive 1942 Darrin was based on a One-Eighty series, Model 2006 Special, 127-inch wheelbase chassis. It was powered by the 356 cubic-inch Packard Super 8 engine, rated at 160 horsepower. The 1942 Darrin weighed 3,920 lbs and listed for $4,595. The 1942 model was the last Darrin built before all civilian car production was halted for the duration. This particular car was number 9 of only 15 built for 1942. These were the last of the Packard Darrins.
The Packard 180 made its debut in 1941 in New York and was to be a replacement for the legendary Packard Twelve. The Packard 180, along with the companion 160 Series, had a modern design with headlights integrated into the fenders for the first time. The interior was equally as modern, with a dash fascia molded almost entirely in plastic.
World War II would halt production and after the war, the company sold its tooling to the Russians. This left the mid-priced Clipper as the company's sole offering after the war. The art of coachbuilding was also coming to a close, as new construction methods all but did away with this craft. Howard 'Dutch' Darrin was one of the few coachbuilders that survived past the late thirties. Darrin had relocated to California and opened a shop in Hollywood where his work catered to the stars.
Near the close of the 1930s, Darrin created a series of special-bodied Convertible Victorias atop the Packard chassis. They were distinguished by their 'vee' windshields, long hoods, and the famous 'Darrin dip' in the beltline near the rear of the doors. The popularity for these cars quickly rose and in response, Darrin set up production in Connersville, Indiana. They carried a relatively high price tag of $4,595 but they had the style to match. All of the circa 50 examples produced were sold. 15 were assembled for 1942 before WWII put a halt to production.
This example was one of the 15 produced in 1942 and was used in the filming of the 1970s television detective series Banacek, starring George Peppard. During the 1990s, the car was treated to a restoration by Packard collector Ralph Marano.
This Packard One-Eighty is the only Convertible Victoria to feature a three-position convertible top - meaning the top can be either closed, completely open, or partially open.
Mounted under the bonnet is a L-head eight-cylinder engine that displaces 356 cubic-inches and produced 165 horsepower. There is a three-speed transmission and four-wheel hydraulic brakes.
In 2008 this Darrin-bodied car was brought to RM Auctions 'Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook' where it was estimated to sell for $225,000 - $275,000. Bidding exceeded those expectations as the lot was sold for $330,000 including buyer's premium.
Only about 100 Packard-Darrin Convertible Victorias were built over a three-year period from 1940-1942. This sporty and luxurious Packard Convertible Victoria was based on a customized Packard made for actor-singer Dick Powell by automobile stylist Howard 'Dutch' Darrin. The sleek Victoria had a cut-down windshield and a gently sloping door line - the 'Darrin' dip - that kicked up toward the rear.
The Custom Super 8 One Eighty Convertible Victoria came standard with a 356 cubic-inch engine that produced 160 horsepower. The engine was coupled to a 3-speed manual transmission and had a top speed of 85 mph. This 4,040 pound car sold for $4,595, which was quite expensive for that era, but Packard was able to sell every one.
For 1942, production of the Victoria was turned over to Sayers and Scoville, a firm that built ambulances and hearses. They produced about 35 Victorias.
Source : www.conceptcarz.com
Howard 'Dutch' Darrin was a flamboyant designer, based in Hollywood. In 1939, after having successfully sold a handful of custom Darrin Packard's to celebrities such as Clark Gable, he proposed marketing his custom convertible as a glamour leader for the Packard brand.
Unfortunately production never achieved the numbers Darrin or Packard had hoped for. They were originally offered on the 120 and 180 chassis. Bodies were initially built by the Auburn Central Company, former manufacturer of Auburn cars. However, by 1941 they had a huge contract to build Jeep bodies for the military and couldn't built the low-volume Darrin bodies. Picking up the contract was Sayer and Scoville, of Cincinnati, a builder of professional cars and limousines. By 1942, they had become Hess and Eisenhardt and had instituted some small design changes to the cars.
The ultra-exclusive 1942 Darrin was based on a One-Eighty series, Model 2006 Special, 127-inch wheelbase chassis. It was powered by the 356 cubic-inch Packard Super 8 engine, rated at 160 horsepower. The 1942 Darrin weighed 3,920 lbs and listed for $4,595. The 1942 model was the last Darrin built before all civilian car production was halted for the duration. This particular car was number 9 of only 15 built for 1942. These were the last of the Packard Darrins.
The Packard 180 made its debut in 1941 in New York and was to be a replacement for the legendary Packard Twelve. The Packard 180, along with the companion 160 Series, had a modern design with headlights integrated into the fenders for the first time. The interior was equally as modern, with a dash fascia molded almost entirely in plastic.
World War II would halt production and after the war, the company sold its tooling to the Russians. This left the mid-priced Clipper as the company's sole offering after the war. The art of coachbuilding was also coming to a close, as new construction methods all but did away with this craft. Howard 'Dutch' Darrin was one of the few coachbuilders that survived past the late thirties. Darrin had relocated to California and opened a shop in Hollywood where his work catered to the stars.
Near the close of the 1930s, Darrin created a series of special-bodied Convertible Victorias atop the Packard chassis. They were distinguished by their 'vee' windshields, long hoods, and the famous 'Darrin dip' in the beltline near the rear of the doors. The popularity for these cars quickly rose and in response, Darrin set up production in Connersville, Indiana. They carried a relatively high price tag of $4,595 but they had the style to match. All of the circa 50 examples produced were sold. 15 were assembled for 1942 before WWII put a halt to production.
This example was one of the 15 produced in 1942 and was used in the filming of the 1970s television detective series Banacek, starring George Peppard. During the 1990s, the car was treated to a restoration by Packard collector Ralph Marano.
This Packard One-Eighty is the only Convertible Victoria to feature a three-position convertible top - meaning the top can be either closed, completely open, or partially open.
Mounted under the bonnet is a L-head eight-cylinder engine that displaces 356 cubic-inches and produced 165 horsepower. There is a three-speed transmission and four-wheel hydraulic brakes.
In 2008 this Darrin-bodied car was brought to RM Auctions 'Vintage Motor Cars of Meadow Brook' where it was estimated to sell for $225,000 - $275,000. Bidding exceeded those expectations as the lot was sold for $330,000 including buyer's premium.
Only about 100 Packard-Darrin Convertible Victorias were built over a three-year period from 1940-1942. This sporty and luxurious Packard Convertible Victoria was based on a customized Packard made for actor-singer Dick Powell by automobile stylist Howard 'Dutch' Darrin. The sleek Victoria had a cut-down windshield and a gently sloping door line - the 'Darrin' dip - that kicked up toward the rear.
The Custom Super 8 One Eighty Convertible Victoria came standard with a 356 cubic-inch engine that produced 160 horsepower. The engine was coupled to a 3-speed manual transmission and had a top speed of 85 mph. This 4,040 pound car sold for $4,595, which was quite expensive for that era, but Packard was able to sell every one.
For 1942, production of the Victoria was turned over to Sayers and Scoville, a firm that built ambulances and hearses. They produced about 35 Victorias.
Source : www.conceptcarz.com
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