1939 Packard Twelve conv. sedan for sale on BaT

Great driving car if you like them big.  In 1939 only 20 such convertible sedans were built, and if I remember correctly 12 or 13 of them exist.  Huge blind spot in rear quarters when top is up.  At least one owner when new wanted little removable windows in the side of the top rear quarters, so she could see out of the back seat when being driven around.

Should bring over 100K pretty easy, looks like a great driver if one is looking for such.

I drove a 39 last year and I agree with Dave's comments.   I prefer 38 for the floor shift, but some people like the column because you can stuff another person in the middle of the seat.

This car needs the white walls thrown in the trash along with the hood ornament,  otherwise a nice car.

And the trunk!   Throw that in the trash too.   The two tone looks pretty good.    These are smooth powerful cars.   I'm thinking it is a 125k car in today's market.

And the trippe lights!   What is with people ruining their cars with crap hanging off them.

alsancleJul 26, 2021

And the trippe lights!   What is with people ruining their cars with crap hanging off them.

You forgot the bumper guard!  These have a nice looking front end except when cluttered like that.  The hood ornament just looks silly on this car.

alsancleJul 26, 2021

And the trunk!   Throw that in the trash too.   The two tone looks pretty good.    These are smooth powerful cars.   I'm thinking it is a 125k car in today's market.

I'm not(125k)........look at the paint and upholstery. I know of other similar cars for sale at the number the car is currently at........70's. If it goes six figures, then BAT is the new place to sell cars to people who are not following the market.

Chromed radiator grille and headlight shells too!  What is wrong with these owners?  Were they going for the Mack truck look?

I missed the fact that paint is weak.  Already in the 70s though, so getting closer to 100 is possible.  I agree lots of things to clean up on this car, from gewgaws to too much chrome.

Chromed radiator cover and headlights:

Cadillac FanJul 26, 2021

Chromed radiator cover and headlights:

Popular, and almost a requirement in India. While it is certain you could order one that way, not too many people in the US did.

If the shell, headlamps were painted, the front bumper guard removed along with the trunk at the rear and the glass mascot , the Trippe lights could almost be tolerable.

I agree to many accessories do not make a car look well and detract from the lines that the stylists /designers intended.

My own 1930 Packard touring has a pair of driving lights up front that were in the accessory catalog for 1930 that I found and used instead of the trippe lights that were on the car when I bought it. I put the Saf-De-lites on because I wanted something there to use to wire up for directional signals. Modern drivers don't pay attention to directional signals , so hand signals are totally unknown to them .  After decades of  hand signals not being paid attention to that I used, it got to the point I would give them another hand signal but that was deemed obscene. At the rear of my car I made small brackets and mounted them to the bumper guard and on top of those have cowl lights that I use as directional signals in the back.  The parking lights on the top of the fenders up front don't work well for directional signals - to small for modern drivers to realize they are there.

edinmassJul 26, 2021

While it is certain you could order one that way, not too many people in the US did.

Because it ruins the look of the car.  

Cadillac FanJul 26, 2021

Because it ruins the look of the car.  

Yes, you are 100 percent correct. The circus wagon look was never in style for great cars...........

Walt GJul 26, 2021

If the shell, headlamps were painted, the front bumper guard removed along with the trunk at the rear and the glass mascot , the Trippe lights could almost be tolerable.

I agree to many accessories do not make a car look well and detract from the lines that the stylists /designers intended.

My own 1930 Packard touring has a pair of driving lights up front that were in the accessory catalog for 1930 that I found and used instead of the trippe lights that were on the car when I bought it. I put the Saf-De-lites on because I wanted something there to use to wire up for directional signals. Modern drivers don't pay attention to directional signals , so hand signals are totally unknown to them .  After decades of  hand signals not being paid attention to that I used, it got to the point I would give them another hand signal but that was deemed obscene. At the rear of my car I made small brackets and mounted them to the bumper guard and on top of those have cowl lights that I use as directional signals in the back.  The parking lights on the top of the fenders up front don't work well for directional signals - to small for modern drivers to realize they are there.

We no longer bother with turn signals on our pre war cars........just like Walt said.........general public is too stupid to understand a flashing parking or driving light. Hell, in Florida no one uses turn signals on modern cars. 

Silly me didn't pick up on the paint either.   Running/driving open 12 cylinder Packard should still bring somewhere near 100k.

A question for the Packard experts here.   My area of old car knowledge is the 1929-30 Studebaker Presidents.   On a 1929 vintage open Studebaker the floors had fitted rubber mats.  Not carpets.  I noticed that this open Packard has a carpet covering on the front floor instead of rubber.   By 1939, did Packard’s high end cars use carpet on the front floors in open cars instead of rubber?   

Yes.

I owned this car in 2003/2004. A great car although poorly presented by the current seller. I sold it to a fellow in the DC area who threw away the original green leather upholstery (it was in fine condition) to put in the brown. Then it was sold to someone in New Zealand. Everything everyone is complaining about (bumper guards, Lalique hood ornament, wrong whitewalls, trunk rack and trunk, Trippe lights and even the steering wheel) was added by one or both of those two owners that came after me. It came back to the States and sold at Gooding Scottsdale 2019 to one of the high profile dealers in Missouri who fabricated out of thin air the story that it was originally owned by Chicago Tribune owner McCormick (it wasn't - I have full ownership history), doubled the price and, I assume, sold it to the current owner. I will find some photos to post from my ownership...

27stutzJul 28, 2021

I owned this car in 2003/2004. A great car although poorly presented by the current seller. I sold it to a fellow in the DC area who threw away the original green leather upholstery (it was in fine condition) to put in the brown. Then it was sold to someone in New Zealand. Everything everyone is complaining about (bumper guards, Lalique hood ornament, wrong whitewalls, trunk rack and trunk, Trippe lights and even the steering wheel) was added by one or both of those two owners that came after me. It came back to the States and sold at Gooding Scottsdale 2019 to one of the high profile dealers in Missouri who fabricated out of thin air the story that it was originally owned by Chicago Tribune owner McCormick (it wasn't - I have full ownership history), doubled the price and, I assume, sold it to the current owner. I will find some photos to post from my ownership...

The best fiction being written today can not be found in Barnes & Noble. You find it in auction descriptions and used car advertisements. 

jcrowJul 28, 2021

Yes.

Thank you.