Beschreibung:

320ci L-Head Inline 8-Cylinder Engine Single Dual-Throat Carburetor 120bhp at 3,200rpm 3-Speed Manual Transmission Front and Rear Leaf Spring Suspension 4-Wheel Drum Brakes *Highly attractive Packard Coachwork *Rare export model to Australia *Known history from new *CCCA Full Classic THE 1934 PACKARD Charles Dickens may have written "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" about the beginning of French Revolution, but it applied just as well to Packard in 1934. The cars were wonderful, offered in a profusion of models, body styles and optional accessories, but the Great Depression was at its deepest and even Packard's elite clientele were not buying. It was cold comfort when Packard finished the year with 42.7% of the luxury car market. Cadillac and Lincoln were in much worse shape but still afloat, unlike Marmon and Peerless who had called it quits in 1933. Pierce-Arrow was also well on its way to going out of business. In the 1934 luxury market Packard's accomplishment was truly remarkable, but it amounted to only 8,000 cars and they were spread out over three different engines and five different chassis. In addition to the inherent quality, luxury, performance, and silence for which Packard was justly famous, the marque's design and styling combined conservative elegance with a hint of sporting flair. Raymond Dietrich had laid down the basic lines of Packard's cataloged and custom bodies while working for Murray Corporation subsidiary Dietrich, Inc. in the late twenties. Ray Dietrich's concepts were embraced by Ed Macauley, who was appointed as Packard's styling director in 1932 by his father Alvan Macauley, Packard's President. Alexis de Sakhnoffsky joined Packard as a part-time consultant through the early thirties, contributing his own sense of form, flow and streamlining to the development of Packard coachwork. Sakhnoffsky's work was then implemented with great talent and skill by Werner Gubitz. While a few remaining independent coachbuilders continued to body Packard chassis, the economy and Packard's extensive catalog of finely-styled designs kept most Packard coachwork production in Packard's own facilities. That was, as it turns out, a serendipitous consequence as the Packard coachwork of the early thirties, and particularly 1934, is among the best of the period. Packard relied on their traditional buttressed grille shell, which since 1932 was vee-shaped with vertical blinds. The nose was complemented with veed headlight lenses and the "down-tick" dart-shaped shoulder molding created by Hibbard & Darrin. Packard cataloged no less than thirteen standard bodies on the prestigious 1104 Super Eight alone. Deliveries of closed sedans predominated but it is the few, very special, open 1934 Packards that are most appreciated today. These particular cars embody the essence of classic design and quality - their appeal is timeless. THE MOTORCAR OFFERED The consignor purchased this beautiful 1934 Standard Eight Convertible Victoria from Australia the country it was delivered new. We are advised that when new the car was purchased and used by an exclusive Australian Hotel and kept in use for many years. During the 1930's Packard's superb reputation saw a strong demand for their products world-wide. Most commonly the Standard Eight models were exported as the taxation on the Super Eight and Twelve models was prohibitive. Often delivered without coachwork to avoid import duties this example was imported with its factory convertible Victoria bodywork. No doubt this Packard would have come with an exceptionally high price. One of just 2035 Packard Eights produced in 1934 it is safe to say only a small fraction of thee would have been right drive export models. The US was still struggling with the economic Depression and 1933 would mark the lowest production year for Packard and 1934 was little better. This special Packard today is in quite original but nicely presented condition. The exterior was recently resprayed in