473 cid V 12 engine, 175 HP, three-speed manual transmission; wheelbase: 144” Packard is one of the oldest car companies in America and has justifiably earned its place among the world’s great marques. The first Packard was built in 1899, and the company began life as the Ohio Automobile Company of Warren, Ohio, before becoming the Packard Motor Car Company in 1902 and moving to Detroit a year later. Along with Peerless and Pierce-Arrow, Packard remained the preeminent manufacturer of luxury automobiles in the world throughout the Classic Era. In 1930, Cadillac set off a luxury car cylinder race by introducing both a V12 and a V16 engine. Packard responded with their well-engineered new V12 in 1932. The V12 displaced 473.3 cubic inches and developed 175 horsepower with a Stromberg dual downdraft carburetor and a three-speed transmission with vacuum assisted clutch. The top speed was reportedly over 100 mph although Packard advertising modestly claimed only 85 mph. The V12 Packards were smooth, quiet, and powerful, and by 1937, a highly refined luxury automobile. The 1937 Packards are particularly favored today for their first year hydraulically assisted brakes and independent coil spring suspension. The buyers of the day agreed, with a record 1,300 V12s produced that year. This Raymond Dietrich designed Convertible Sedan body style is finished in Packard Centennial Blue with white pin striping. The long gray convertible top and rakish windscreen accent the flowing lines of the 1937 Convertible Sedan. The upholstery is finished in dark gray leather over a medium gray Bedford cord. This Packard is the 39th of only 40 V12 Dietrich design Convertible Sedans built in 1937. The car ID (#356407) is on the firewall and the serial is #1073-239. The car was delivered new to the Philadelphia Packard dealership in August of 1937. It is believed the original owner was Dr. Lawrence R. Davis of Ardmore, Pennsylvania. It passed through the collection of Elmer Hess, a prominent Cincinnati businessman and enthusiast, before being purchased by Bill Perin in 1959. John Perin, his son, can take it from here: “My father, Bill Perin, purchased this car, his first classic vehicle, from Elmer Hess, a Cincinnati resident and avid car collector in 1959, and it has been an integral part of the Perin family for 53 years. I was eight years old in 1959, and I have many fond memories of rides in the country, local CCCA events, 4th of July, Labor Day, and Memorial Day parades that we participated in. One of my favorite memories was when I was a senior in college and my dad allowed me to take the Packard on a hot Saturday afternoon in May with the top down to a SAE Fraternity Picnic with my date and a couple in the back seat. To this day, I am not sure what he was thinking. My dad loved to tinker with the car, and enjoyed making sure it was always running in tip top shape. I remember it being a big, powerful car that everyone in town loved to see. The Packard would pull even the biggest hills in town – the 6,250 pound car plus our whole family – even in third gear, and we enjoyed it frequently as a family. In December of 2005, my dad felt it was finally time to fully and correctly restore the car, and he engaged John Bastian of Bastian Automotive to do a complete frame-off restoration of the car. Less than four weeks later my dad died suddenly of heart failure, and my Mom faced a difficult decision. As a family, we decided to complete the restoration just as my Dad wanted it, because of the fondness my father had for his first and favorite classic car. After a 4-1/2 year restoration, we brought it to the 2010 Dayton Concours and Dad’s Packard won Best in Show – it was a very emotional moment for us. The awards just continued, including: March 2011 Amelia Island Concours, Best of Class May 2011 Indianapolis Concours, Best of Class June 2011 Cincinnati Concours, Best of Class July 2011 Lexington Concours, Class Winner August 2011 St. John’s Concours, Class Winner September 2011 Dayton Concours, Best of Class This was my Dad’s first classic car and although he owned other cars (1915 Model T, 1931 Cadillac V12 All-Weather Phaeton, 1948 Packard, 1955 Chrysler 300, and a 1929 Hacker-Craft) the Packard was always his favorite and the car he loved to drive the most. We’ve had a great time showing and sharing the car, and it gave our family the chance to honor my Father and enjoy a long and glorious goodbye, but the time has come in our family’s life to let the car go. John Bastian, of Bastian Automotive, orchestrated the frame-off restoration over 4-1/2 years, with paint and body by Mark Cleek, and a spectacular interior by John Edginton. It has just 18 miles on it since the no-holds barred restoration, and it is our hope that the next caretakers will enjoy it as much as our family did.” An experienced marque restorer was utilized, intense research was done to make sure no detail was missed, no expense was spared, and the originality and quality of the restoration efforts is evident from the consistent Concours wins. This vehicle certainly offers the new owner an opportunity to stand tall in any CCCA or AACA judging right out of the box. It could very well be the finest 1937 1508 Convertible Sedan in the country, with half a century of single-family ownership. Its stunning Centennial Blue paint is an original color offered in 1937 and elegantly accents the long flowing lines of the Convertible Sedan. Contrasted with gray top, gray leather, and Bedford cord interior, it is truly a showstopper. The engine compartment is pristine, the finishes impeccable, and the plating is of the highest quality. There are few chances to purchase significant Full Classics with the combination of this kind of long-term ownership and impeccable condition. If a World-Class Packard will fit into your collection, don’t miss this opportunity - just ask the man who owns one!