1932 or later Packard Twelve Chassis

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

The Nethercutt Collection is one of America’s finest Automotive Museums and Collections, a masterpiece comprising over 250 perfectly restored American and European motor cars, along with a vast array of rare mechanical musical instruments and precious antique furniture. 

Maintaining a classic car collection of this size is never easy, and when it reaches the scale of our collection, it becomes increasingly more challenging. Our founder, J.B. Nethercutt said the following at age 91, “The recognition and preservation of beauty has been a major focus of my life. It would suit me well if what people remembered about me was, ‘Where he went, he left beauty behind.’” 

As a result, we have decided to part ways with a small group of cars from the collection and will do so in partnership with our friends at Hagerty Marketplace. Many of the cars we have decided to sell we have owned for in excess of 50 years, or have been in storage, not on display, or represent a tremendous opportunity as a restoration project. They are a compelling mix of pre-war examples that have been thoroughly well-cared for and that will easily find new caretakers who will undoubtedly cherish and use them as intended.  

As we say goodbye to this group of cars, we hope the occasion for their sale will introduce us to new collectors and enthusiasts, and we look forward to hosting you at the Museum and Collection in Sylmar, California, in the coming months, years and decades. 

 * * * 

 Not unlike the rest of the automotive industry, Packard was feeling the effects of the Depression following the stock market crash in 1929. Yet the company astounded the automotive world when it introduced its Ninth Series cars on January 9, 1932 comprising two distinctly new lines at that year’s New York Auto Show. At one end was the bargain-priced Light Eight, offering the quality and features of a Packard in a new lightweight body at a much lower price than other models.

At the other end of the price spectrum was the company’s Twin Six utilizing Packard’s largest chassis and a 445.5 cu-in 160hp V12 engine. Reputedly, the engine was on the drawing board prior to the Crash, but the reality was that in order to maintain its supremacy in the luxury market, the company was forced to offer the engine to compete with Cadillac’s V12 and V16 models, the Marmon V16, and V12s from Auburn, Lincoln and Pierce-Arrow.

The Twin Six was introduced at the New York Automobile Show as Packard’s entry into the Cylinder Wars. Its name was a one-year only nostalgic remembering of the World War I-era V12’s which were called Twin Sixes. Beginning in 1933 until the end of production in 1939, the model was known simply as the Packard Twelve. The re-introduction of the Twin Six created such excitement among the well-to-do that it was flashed across the ticker tape on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.

Highlights

• Offered from The Nethercutt Collection

• Build your own custom Packard

• V12 engine and transmission

Features

• Rear end and front suspension

• Front and rear shocks

• Radiator

• Braking system

• 16-inch steel wheels

Ownership History

Purchased from Bradley Skinner, Bartlesville, Oklahoma (1981).

From Cameron Richards, Vice President of The Nethercutt Collection: “Packard’s are my absolute personal favorite. This car was originally a two -door Opera Coupe. We are parting ways with this chassis in hopes someone will find a body for it and restore it to its former glory.”

Additional Notes

Sold on Bill of Sale only.

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty.

Contact: Donnie Gould Phone: 954.647.0779 email: dgould@hagerty.com