1934 Packard Model 1100

To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys The Hershey Auction event, 7 - 8 October 2026.
Offered Without Reserve $40,000 - $60,000 USD

• The pinnacle of Classic Era Packard styling
• Well-maintained older restoration in red and black over a grey interior
• 319-cid straight-eight producing 120 hp; three-speed gearbox
• Features optional dual covered side-mounted spares with mirrors, Deluxe Goddess of Speed radiator mascot, Trippe Speedlights, and a luggage rack
• A CCCA Full Classic

Introduced at the height of the Great Depression in August 1933, Packards Eleventh Series, with its subtly raked windscreen, V-shaped radiator grille and low stance, further cemented the marques reputation for making some of the most beautiful automobiles of the Classic Era. Updates for the 1934 model year included the addition of an oil-temperature regulator and a larger, heavy-duty generator to allow for an optional vacuum-tube radio. The gas-tank filler was relocated to the left rear taillight assembly, while new, slotted bumpers and vent wings distinguished the 1934 model from its predecessor.

Although the Eight was the lowest-priced model in Packards lineup, it was by no means an entry-level automobile, as this 1100 Five-Passenger Sedan riding on a 129.5-inch wheelbase and priced from $2,350 demonstrates. The Eights received the aforementioned Eleventh Series mechanical upgrades, in addition to the striking styling that remains so sought after today. Power was supplied by Packards renowned nine-bearing straight-eight, here displacing 319 cubic inches and producing 120 horsepower. A three-speed synchromesh transmission and vacuum-assisted brakes were standard.

According to this Five-Passenger Sedans vehicle identification plate, believed to be original, it was delivered new in July of 1934 to the Bronx branch of the Packard Motor Car Company of New York. In December 1974, William R. Messer of Shelby, North Carolina, acquired it in largely original condition. He completed a restoration of the car in red and black over a grey cloth interior by summer 1977. The Packard would remain in the Messer family until 2005, when it was sold to another resident of North Carolina.

Recognized as a Full Classic by the Classic Car Club of America, this Packard Eight is now offered from the Vehicle Vault Collection, where it has resided since 2012. It still wears its prior restoration and sports a range of optional features, including the Deluxe radiator mascot Packards famous so-called Goddess of Speed as well as Trippe Speedlights, dual covered side-mounted spare tires topped with mirrors, and a rear luggage rack for longer trips.

With balanced lines and elegant proportions backed by Packards quality engineering and construction, this would be a fine point of introduction for a collector looking to get acquainted with one of Detroits storied marques, as well as an ideal acquisition for an experienced collector seeking a car well-suited for family drives and extended tours.
To view this car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit the RM website at rmsothebys.com/auctions/hf26/.