1939 Packard Model 1708

By 1939, the great American custom coachbuilt motorcar stood at its twilight. Economic realities had thinned the ranks of bespoke body builders, and even the mighty Packard Twelve was nearing the end of its distinguished run. For its final season, Packards Model 1708 Twelve represented the ultimate expression of the marques engineering philosophy: effortless power, mechanical refinement, and dignified presence. Among the very last and most extraordinary of these was this one-of-a-kind Rollson Town Car, a motorcar that embodies the closing chapter of the Classic Era.

Rollston had been synonymous with custom Packard coachwork since the early 1920s. Under the creative direction of designer Rudy Creteur, the firm became known for its dramatic, individually tailored town cars built for Americas industrial elite. Following bankruptcy in 1938, the firm quickly reorganized as Rollson, continuing its tradition of bespoke excellence just as the market for such extravagance was evaporating. By 1939, conspicuous consumption had fallen decidedly out of fashion. That this car was built at all speaks volumes about both its original patron and the stature of Packards Twelve chassis.

Constructed on the 139-inch wheelbase Twelve platform, this Rollson Town Car is entirely unique. It is fully eight inches longer and three inches wider than a standard Packard Twelve, lending it a commanding presence that sets it apart even among Full Classics. The proportions are deliberate and imposing, the formal roofline upright and authoritative, the long hood stretching forward in unmistakable Packard fashion. Finished in deep black, the presentation is superb, with lustrous paint and magnificent chrome that underscores its stately character.

The Town Car configuration is quintessentially formal. The chauffeur compartment is trimmed in black leather, purposeful and restrained, while the rear passenger compartment is appointed in rich Laidlaw broadcloth, beautifully preserved from its comprehensive 1974 to 1975 restoration. Burled walnut trim adds warmth and elegance, complementing the plush interior appointments. Fold-out opera seats provide additional accommodation, and thoughtful amenities abound, including a cigarette lighter and ashtray for each rear passenger.

Crowning the radiator is a striking Lalique-type Spirit of the Wind mascot, which illuminates at night, an exquisite touch befitting a motorcar of this stature. Every formal detail remains intact, reflecting careful stewardship over decades. The cars remarkable state of preservation is a testament to the quality of its restoration and the respect afforded by its distinguished custodians.

Ownership begins new with Mrs. H. P. Kraft, and the car remained within the Kraft family until 1950. By the mid-1960s it had entered the care of George Auguston of Kansas City before being acquired in April 1973 by Otis Chandler, publisher of the Los Angeles Times and one of the most prominent American collectors of his era. Chandler commissioned a no-expense-spared restoration by Robert Turnquist of Hibernia, New Jersey, widely regarded as Mr. Packard. Completed between 1974 and 1975 at a cost exceeding 71,000 dollars, a substantial sum at the time, the restoration returned the car to an extraordinary standard.

The results were immediate and emphatic. In 1975, the car achieved 100 points in Classic Car Club of America National Competition at Buck Hill Falls. It earned 99.25 points at Newport Beach, winning its Senior division, and was a division winner and Best of Show at the Ambassador Hotel Concours dElegance. That same year at Pebble Beach, it won its class as well as Best of Show runner up, reportedly missing the top honor by the narrowest of margins following a recount.

Chandlers period of ownership was followed by additional respected custodians, including the late General William Lyon, who acquired the car in February 1981 through whom this Packard is offered on behalf of. The chain of ownership reflects continuous recognition of the cars importance among serious collectors of significant American classics.

Under the long hood resides Packards magnificent V12, engine number B-602225, delivering the turbine smooth performance for which these cars are legendary. To drive a Packard Twelve is to experience mechanical refinement at its zenith. The engine runs with uncanny silence and composure, often likened to a sewing machine in its smoothness, while the massive chassis moves with authority and grace. Even by modern standards, the experience is one of serene power and understated command.

Remarkably, the Turnquist restoration, now five decades past, has held up in phenomenal fashion. The car presents today in fabulous condition throughout, with paint, brightwork, and interior finishes maintaining a level that many more recent restorations struggle to equal. It is both a time capsule of 1970s concours excellence and a living testament to Packards engineering and Rollsons craftsmanship.

As one of the final Packard Twelves built, and as a singular Rollson Town Car executed at the very end of the custom coachbuilding era, this motorcar occupies rarefied ground. Its documented provenance, concours pedigree, and extraordinary preservation place it among the most significant surviving American formal automobiles. In every respect, it stands as a dignified monument to the end of an era when luxury was measured not merely in cost, but in craftsmanship, discretion, and mechanical excellence.

Offers welcome and trades considered.