Lot 259

Hershey 2012

1937 Packard Six Rumble Seat Convertible Coupe

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$44,000 USD | Sold

United States | Hershey, Pennsylvania

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Vehicle no.
1089-1528

Model 115-C. 100 hp, 237 cu. in. L-head inline six-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission, coil spring independent front suspension and live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 115 in.

• Unique right-hand drive model originally sold in England

• An older restoration that still presents nicely

• Legendary Packard reliability; serviced and driven regularly

Packard’s 15th Series was introduced on September 3, 1936, with an incredible 50 models available for 1937. With the success of its 120 Model, Packard decided to go even further into the mid-price territory with the introduction of the Six, priced just $100 more than the top models of Chevrolet, Ford, and Plymouth. Now Packard dealers could offer new vehicles in nearly every price class, and the market responded accordingly. Packard produced a record 109,518 cars, a number the company had never attained before nor would ever again achieve in its history. Ninety percent of its sales were concentrated within the new Six and 120 model lines. Appropriately, Packard’s advertising pitch was “finer cars at lower prices.”

This was Packard’s first six-cylinder car since 1928. Unlike the earlier Six, which was identical to larger models, this was a more scaled-down version of the larger Packards. The engine design was new, too, but essentially a miniaturized version of the 120’s eight-cylinder block without two cylinders. Producing 100 horsepower at 3,500 rpm, the new six was capable of 90–100 mph top speeds. Officially called the Series 115-C, the Six was a bona-fide Packard, with all the elite Packard amenities of superb quality, comfort, handling, quietness, and service.

Packards continued to be owned by notables like Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Jean Harlow, Al Jolson, Dick Powell, Irene Dunne, and President Franklin Roosevelt. In fact, Packard proudly noted that Hollywood dealer Earle C. Anthony reported more than 100 major movie stars owned Packards, which certainly didn’t hurt the sales of its lower-priced models. The current owner purchased this right-hand drive Packard in 1983. This is an older restoration that is still holding up nicely. It has been serviced and driven regularly and has been a testament to Packard’s famous reliability.