The Brucer
National Auto Museum, Reno - 1938 Packard convertible coupe
The Museum's placard for this car reads:
1938 PACKARD
Model: 1607 Convertible Coupe
Built by: Packard Motor Car Co., Detroit, Michigan
Price: $4,370
Engine: 12 Cylinder, 175 H.P.
Bore: 3-7/16 in.
Stroke: 4-1/4 in.
Displacement: 473.4 cu. in.
From the turn of the century, the Packard Motor Company built a reputation for producing some of America’s finest cars. In the period between the two world wars, Packard was clearly the most successful production luxury line. Packard’s advertising slogan, “Ask the Man Who Owns One,” was known worldwide. The company was conservative, solid, and respected. During the Depression, however, while competitors such as Cadillac developed 16-cylinder engines and lavish custom bodies, Packard introduced lower-cost lines that tarnished its luster as the luxury leader, and sowed seeds of problems that would lead to the company’s failure in the 1950’s.
Senior line Packards were always fine automobiles. Top-of-the-line were the 12-cylinder Packards. These prestigious automobiles can be easily identified by their distinctive red cloisonné hubcap medallions, three adjustable louvers on each side of the hood, and painted metallic gray instrument panels. There were only 323 12-cylinder Packards produced in 1938, and 12-cylinder production stopped altogether in 1939.
Donated by: Harrah’s Hotels & Casinos
Adopted by: Packard Auto Classics (E)
Supplemental note by photographer: It is instructive to understand how the model number "1607" was assigned to this car. First, the vehicles produced in 1938 were referred to by Packard as their "sixteenth series"; as a result, the model number would necessarily be "16xx", where the "xx" is determined by the engine size and chassis/wheelbase. Consistent with Packard's customized car building system, buyers had a choice of four engine sizes -- the "Six" (their smallest, 245 cu. in. in-line six-cylinder engine), the "Eight" (a 282 cu. in. in-line 8), the "Super Eight" (a 320 cu. in. in-line 8), and the "Twelve" (a 473 cu. in. V-12 formerly called the "Twin Six"). The "Twelve" series came on chassis having two alternative wheelbases: 134 in. and 139 in. For the particular 16-series car shown in this photo, with a "Twelve" mounted on a 134-in wheelbase, the model number would be 1607.
In addition to the "1607" assigned to this 1938 engine/chassis combination, there were further digits added to reflect the body style mounted on the 1607. When the 4-passenger convertible coupe body style shown here was mounted on a 1607 engine/chassis, it was assigned the further designation "1139". So the complete formal name for the car shown here would be: "1938 Packard 1607 Twelve Convertible Coupe 1139".
The only 1938 body styles that Packard offered on the "Twelve" with the larger 139-inch chassis -- i.e., larger than the 134-in. car shown here -- were a 5-passenger sedan convertible and various 7-passenger touring cars, limos, and cabriolets.
National Auto Museum, Reno - 1938 Packard convertible coupe
The Museum's placard for this car reads:
1938 PACKARD
Model: 1607 Convertible Coupe
Built by: Packard Motor Car Co., Detroit, Michigan
Price: $4,370
Engine: 12 Cylinder, 175 H.P.
Bore: 3-7/16 in.
Stroke: 4-1/4 in.
Displacement: 473.4 cu. in.
From the turn of the century, the Packard Motor Company built a reputation for producing some of America’s finest cars. In the period between the two world wars, Packard was clearly the most successful production luxury line. Packard’s advertising slogan, “Ask the Man Who Owns One,” was known worldwide. The company was conservative, solid, and respected. During the Depression, however, while competitors such as Cadillac developed 16-cylinder engines and lavish custom bodies, Packard introduced lower-cost lines that tarnished its luster as the luxury leader, and sowed seeds of problems that would lead to the company’s failure in the 1950’s.
Senior line Packards were always fine automobiles. Top-of-the-line were the 12-cylinder Packards. These prestigious automobiles can be easily identified by their distinctive red cloisonné hubcap medallions, three adjustable louvers on each side of the hood, and painted metallic gray instrument panels. There were only 323 12-cylinder Packards produced in 1938, and 12-cylinder production stopped altogether in 1939.
Donated by: Harrah’s Hotels & Casinos
Adopted by: Packard Auto Classics (E)
Supplemental note by photographer: It is instructive to understand how the model number "1607" was assigned to this car. First, the vehicles produced in 1938 were referred to by Packard as their "sixteenth series"; as a result, the model number would necessarily be "16xx", where the "xx" is determined by the engine size and chassis/wheelbase. Consistent with Packard's customized car building system, buyers had a choice of four engine sizes -- the "Six" (their smallest, 245 cu. in. in-line six-cylinder engine), the "Eight" (a 282 cu. in. in-line 8), the "Super Eight" (a 320 cu. in. in-line 8), and the "Twelve" (a 473 cu. in. V-12 formerly called the "Twin Six"). The "Twelve" series came on chassis having two alternative wheelbases: 134 in. and 139 in. For the particular 16-series car shown in this photo, with a "Twelve" mounted on a 134-in wheelbase, the model number would be 1607.
In addition to the "1607" assigned to this 1938 engine/chassis combination, there were further digits added to reflect the body style mounted on the 1607. When the 4-passenger convertible coupe body style shown here was mounted on a 1607 engine/chassis, it was assigned the further designation "1139". So the complete formal name for the car shown here would be: "1938 Packard 1607 Twelve Convertible Coupe 1139".
The only 1938 body styles that Packard offered on the "Twelve" with the larger 139-inch chassis -- i.e., larger than the 134-in. car shown here -- were a 5-passenger sedan convertible and various 7-passenger touring cars, limos, and cabriolets.