In the beginning...photographed in November or December of 1934 at the Packard Proving Grounds. A very early 1935 120 sedan. Could this have Been VIN 893-1001? We will never know.
120 Model 999 Official Pacecar of the Indianapolis 500 Race in 1936
Wilber Shaw, no stranger to Indianapolis, and his 120B sedan
Shining in its new 1952 Packard Aspen Green paint job, painted white walls, plastic seat covers, and 75 thousand miles on a broken odometer. A teenagers dream, summer 1953.
The condition of the car in the winter of 1960. It went through five owners after I sold it in 1953. Some of the Aspen Green is still visible. One owner removed the paint from the cowl forward and then quit with the restoration.
Under reconstruction in Dayton Ohio, in February 1961. New Denman whitewalls $35.00 each, JCWhitney good grade Canvas top,$28.00 and change.
Richard K. Phillips Sr with original engine removed from vehicle, circa 1980 (Notice the shades of rust from the coolant leakage in the block...)
All our off-spring in one rumble seat. Ralph Nader would have a fit. New Hope, PA 1971
Dietrichs proposal for a 1936 120 sports sedan. This would have been beautiful.
A LeBaron rendering of a 1935 120 convertible sedan.
Mr. Guy Sturdy, manager of the 1935 Baltimore Orioles is awarded a 1935 120 sedan. Dont you love that dude in front of the grill? He, or someone like him, often find their way into publicity shots.
Mr. And Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt arranged to pick up their 899 at the factory. I hope Elliott had those trousers shortened before he waLked out the cuffs.
A stylized picture of the 1935 model 894. The company fortunes hung on the success of this auto.
Opening baseball day parade in Los Angeles,1935. This was before air travel allowed the major leagues to play that far west
Heres number one again. It must have been a frigid day in late November,1934...Check out the clothing in the next shot.
This is the third in the series of this original 35 120 taken on this winter day in 1934. The New York Auto Show introdusction of the 120 was only weeks away.Damn. it appears cold!
I know that the second World War took a heavy toll on connvertible cars of all makes, and that the 1935 120 was an abbreviated model year, but it seems strange that more 35 120s of any body style did not survive.
A factory shot of a sports coupe ,Model 895. This was different than the business coupe in that the added passengers did not have to stretch out in the trunk1
1935 business coupe Packard 120 model 898. Unlike the previous shot any passengers are out of luck. It holds two,maybe three in a pinch. At the Packard Proving Grounds, early 1935.
They found a new subject, but it looks even colder.Was it really colder in those days? An 892 model at the proving grounds entrance.
A factory photo of a model 899 taken near the Detroit Yachet Club at Belle Isle Park, in early 1935. Notice the rumble seat step on the front of the right rear fender. This was reversed in 1936 and 37. The earlier idea makes more sense.
An 892 factory shot. Was this the same car shown earlier in the snow at the Packard proving ground entrance? Quite probably, they did not have an abundance of subjects in the last months of 1934!
A shiny new 1092 120c and owner. Dillenger, pretty boy Floyd, machine gun Kelly ?...naw! Just John E Doe.
Mr. Harry S Trinkle, Packard dealer in New Albany, IN. checks out an 894.Did they really have polyester suits in the thirties?
On this factory shot of a 1936 999 one can see the shape, size, and location of the rear light.These points are critical on the convertible coupe series. The glass had to be able to be vertically stored to properly fold the top.
A mid thirties Hollywood actress ,Miss Jean Parker,promotes a 1935 120 seadan in an unknown dealers showroom.
Doing what the car was designed for... Just breezing along,having a ball.
Another factory shot of a 120 model 898. Notice the suicide front doors which were standard on all the 1935 bodies.
A rollston interpretation of the 1936 120B town car. Can someone talk to me about those wheel covers.?
Happy times were not an everyday occurrence in 1936, but this couple seem to be trying to make the best of a difficult Depression year.
A variety of 120s in indoor storage,awaiting delivery assignment.
This is where it all happened
Geo. T Christopher, then Production Manager, alledgely once said when they were at the above point, we get them this far, we can finish them somehow. Another smart guy remark from an important suit? You be the judge.
An after-rail delivery shipment in Dallas, TX. I am still amazed, knowing first hand the violent humping the box cars went through, that any Packards got delivered undamaged.
Can you imagine shoe-horning brand new Packards into a box car? Talk about on-the-job stress! Those guys loading the cars probably could not afford to buy one. We were tough in those days...
The front interior of the 120CD model
Exiting the 138CD model
Rear seating in the 138CD model
Auxiliary seating in the 138CD model
When matching colors or striping cars, women seem to have an edge. Something to do with the cones in their eyes.
Outdoor storage. Ready to transport.
This 120B was photographed near Elmira, N.Y. Given this fact there is no question that the trailer contains a glider. This is a great sailplane area.
Look Ma...Toppa the world! In reality,the Colorado Rockies.
More people that were not supersized at Mcdonalds. Actually our entire generation is envious. But those hats... No wonder the comics of the day made fun of them... A sweet 999 however!
No less a personage than Alf Landon, presidential nominee of the Republican party in 1936, parading in a Packard 120, model 997.
A 1936 120B model 998. Note that the suicide doors are gone.
Ah, the great depression of the Thirties. Before Mcdonalds super sized us. Did any of us get enough food? What do you think?
Charlie Vincents people keeping his brothers efforts honest. A 120C being worked over on the Packard Proving Grounds twelve mile stretch of automoblie abuse.
The 1936 120, model 999. They took away the suicide doors, but they took the vent windows with them. I have never heard a plausible reason for this action.
A factory shot of the 999.
Another shot of the 999. This time in front of a Packard Dealership.
William Packer, Packard Manager of Sales, beside his personal 120C, model 1097. Factory facilities in the background.
This, and the following shot, show the attractive features of the 1097 model
Your car, madam...
The 1097 viewed from a different angle..
A factory shot of the 120C, model 1097.
The above car with the convertible top folded.
This picture and the one that follows... professional models with a 1097 on Belle Isle, Michigan. Packard often used this site for promotioal work.
On a clear day you can see General Motors.
Another shot of the assembly line. This is immediately before the body-drop station.
Colonel Roscoe Turner, a noted aviator of the period, at the Packard factory taking delivery of a 120c 1092.
A commonly seen photo of designer Brooks Stevens 1937 120C station sedan. There was only one of these known to have been produced , which is a shame. Had there been more they would surely be highly prized today.
Hartford, CT, Fire Chief Michael D. Kenna on the right with the city owned 1937 138CD, model 1091. To the left, Asst. Chief William Daley with his 1937 120 model1092.
A factory shot of the 138CD. It seems that in most ,if not all shots on the factory turntable, the cars selected were as ordinary as possible. Contrast this picture with those two that follow.
A 1937 138 CD positioned behind the Detroit Institute of Arts. Now we are showing some class.
Another promotional shot of the 138 inch wheelbase model.
Another factory shot. You can spot the big shots, they are the ones wearing neckties and doing nothing...
Ah, salesmanship... A necessity for any automobile company, and Packard was well aware of this
PPG in this case stands for Pittsburgh Plate Glass, not Packard Proving Ground. Strong glass, it would seem so as this 1092 weighed in at about 3705 lbs.
Mr. Al Schacht, "The Crown Prince of Baseball"... member of the Baseball Hall of Fame... with his 1099 120C Convertible Coupe
Dixie Dunbar??? She was beautiful, but who was she ?
An Earl C Anthony publicity shot.I am leaving it up to the viewer to decide whether this is a Model 999 or 1099.
A pretty girl posing for a Smith College yearbook with a 120C as a prop.
The 1938 eight,no longer called the120.This is a well dressed convertible coupe...ready to let the good times roll.
I think the photographer could have used a little more imagination with the setting.This must be a two person business coupe ,model 1198.
An early Dutch Darin rendering on the 120, now Packard 8 ,chassis.
A pair of 1601 series,1938 eights, by Darrin.
The bread and butter entry for 1938 ,the model 1192, four .door touring sedan
A second shot of the model 1192.
The photographer does not mind the cold, but I bet the riders do. An 1199 2-4 passenger convertible coupe.
A model 1197 convertible sedan. Another imaginative settig for promotional work.
There is nothing new under the sun. A sun roof by Rollston on a model 1192 Packard eight.
A seven passenger all-weather brougham on the Packard eight chassis, by Rollston.
Here we are again... Its still not convertible weather, but at least the car is not moving. A publicity shot on Belle Isle, Mich. in a model 1199.
Pretty fancy for a Business Coupe, model 1198. Double white walls,beauty rings, grill guard,hood ornament, road lamps,and deluxe steering wheel.
A 1938 five passenger Convertible Sedan, model 1197.
Proud owners of the first two 1938 Packards delivered into the Santa Monica CA. area.
A Model 1195, Club Coupe undergoing paint scheme evaluation, and side mount placement. The alternatig chrome-painted grill bars shown, became standard on 1939 senior models.
A 1602 Model 1191 seven passenger Touring Sedan
Another seven passenger job. This one appears to be a prototype. It is sporting a 37 120 bumper. The Belle Isle Conservatory is in the background.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of England on review in Model 1602, body 1191. Montreal, Canada, 1939.
A model 1199 at the factory studio. This could very well be an early prototype. It carries 37 120 bumpers, guards and hub caps.
A 1938 model 1192. This unadorned auto was typical of John Doe transportation then. An ordinary workhorse ready to do its role.
A factory shot merely identified as Paint Dept.,1938. I must believe that this is not where the major body painting was done. Perhaps inspection and minor touch up.
A fully equipped 1938 eight, model 1199. Very sharp...
