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THE 1939 PHILADELPHIA AUTO SHOW CAR 1938 PACKARD V12 TOURING CABRIOLET COACHWORK BY BRUNN Serial No. 1608 2007 Engine No. A600189 Maroon with grey cloth upholstery Engine: V12, 473.31 cu.in giving 175 bhp at 3,200rpm; Gearbox: three speed manual; Suspension: front, independent coil springs, rear, semi-elliptic leaf springs; Brakes: four wheel drum. Left hand drive. In 1898 James Ward Packard, an electric lamp manuafacturer of Warren, Ohio, bought his first car, a Winton. Dissatisfied with it, Packard decided to design and build his own car. By 1903 with a new factory in Detroit, Packard was rapidly becoming one of America's leading car manufacturers. Packards reputation was founded upon fine engineering, long life, early racing success and great 12-cylinder luxury cars. Clearly recognizable by distinct yoke-shaped radiators and fluted hoods, Packards projected an aura of prestige and excellence. The Packard workmanship was also favorably compared to that of Rolls-Royce. As early as 1903 Packard established the first factory school in auto engineering with regular classes for employees, later expanded to month-long courses in car maintenance and repair for Packard chauffeurs and owners. In the early years, Packard took an unusual step in the U.S.A. by establishing its own factory dealerships, selling directly to the public rather than through independent agencies. In order to maintain their high standards of quality, Packard decided to build as many parts as possible in-house. In the 1930s Packard was the market leader of the luxury car market. Its twelve cylinder models were of the highest quality and refinement and attracted the finest of coachbuilder bodies to adorn their superb chassis. One such company was Brunn & Company of Buffalo, N.Y. One of America's best custom body builders, closely identified for some years with Lincoln, but who built some highly attractive Packards late in their career as typified by this superb example. The model number of this Packard is from the sixteenth series, 1608, which signifies a twelve cylinder car built on a 139in chassis. This chassis length was reduced by four inches from the previous year which resulted in a re-designed weight distribution and new steering geometry. According to the noted historian Robert E. Turnquist; The Sixteenth Series was definitely the epitome of maneuverability among the classic Packards. Another interesting quotation found in The Classic Car by Beverly Rae Kimes is by Mr. Bill Walker who also owns a 1938 Brunn Convertible: A startling feature is the silence of the engine. When stopped at traffic lights, one must watch the oil pressure gauge to be sure the engine is running; it cannot be heard. The series was built for one year from September 1937 and a total of 157 were built during this year. The Brunn Touring Cabriolet is particularly rare as just ten were produced in 1938. This example was purchased new from the Philadelphia Auto Show for $9,600 by Mrs. Margaret Dorrance Strawbridge, the heiress of the Dorrance Family of Campbell Soup Fame. On the death of Mrs. Strawbridge the car passed to her husband Mr. George Strawbridge, who headed the prestigious retail chain of Strawbridge and Clothier. Interestingly, the original Packard Owner's Service Card and an Amoco credit card (cardboard!) of Mr. Strawbridge accompany this lot. The car was then purchased by a Mr. Albert Sellers who in turn sold the car to Mr. Barnard Walsh in 1956 who in turn sold the car to the current owner in 1984. This remarkably original and untouched car has undergone a recent comprehensive restoration including a full mechanical restoration and is offered today in near concours standard. It comes with all the available accessories such as a Packard Deluxe radio and heater, custom trunk, trippe lights, dual sidemounts and metal covers, rear Jaeger clock and a magnificent walnut interior wood trim. Another fascinating feature of this vehicle is a rear view mirror that tells the