Vehicle Description
The beautiful Packard Tenth Series was introduced in 1933 at the
33rd National Automobile Show. The entire model range had been
revamped with new styling and new names. The old Standard Eight,
Deluxe Eight, and Twin-Six nomenclature was dropped for the simpler
Eight, Super Eight and Twelve. Packard execs felt the new names
were more upscale and helped differentiate Packard from entry-level
eight cylinder cars from the likes of Ford. Names aside, the new
Tenth Series featured the first hints of streamline styling trends
that were creeping into automobile design at the time. Front
fenders were skirted for a fuller look, and the radiator grille
featured a Vee-design. Beneath the body was a new X-member frame,
17-inch wheels, and refinements to the adjustable power braking and
ride control systems. The flagship of the fleet was the Twelve,
available as the Model 1005 on a 142-inch wheelbase, or the Model
1006 on the 147-inch wheelbase. With the 1005, buyers had eleven
body styles to choose from, while the 1006 was only offered in two
formal limousine styles. Interestingly, Packard produced the 10th
Series for only eight months until the 11th series replaced it. As
a result, just 525 Twelves were built in 1933. This 1933 Packard
Twelve 1005 wears handsome Club Sedan coachwork from the factory
catalog and is one of only a handful of known survivors. This
lifelong California car was first sold in August 1933 via Earle C.
Anthony's Los Angeles showroom, though little of its subsequent
early history is known. In February 1979, this car surfaced in a
classified ad in the LA Times. The advertisement described the car
as one of 5 known examples, and while it was mostly complete, it
was in need of a total restoration. An artist, avid car collector,
and restorer from nearby Altadena, California, Mr. Ron Lawless,
recognized the rarity and importance of the car and soon brought
the derelict Packard home. The late Mr. Lawless would restore the
car himself over a ten year period, painstakingly disassembling it
down to a bare chassis and rebuilding every component along the
way. Period photos show the car was complete but rough, requiring
considerable effort to return it to its former elegance. While
indeed an ambitious project, Mr. Lawless was up to the task and the
results are truly outstanding. He would go on to enjoy his finely
restored Packard for nearly 40 years. With the restoration
completed by the late 1980s, Ron showed his Packard extensively on
the West Coast, earning numerous awards along the way. In 1989, the
Packard was entered in a CCCA Grand Classic where it received a
National First Prize and Senior badge. As late as 2009, it was
still being shown, winning its class at the LA Concours. Today, the
restoration has matured, and the car has taken on a very pleasing
and attractive patina. The Club Sedan coachwork is understated and
handsome, and the bodywork appears straight, tidy, and exhibits
sound fit and finish, a testament quality of the original
restoration. The black paintwork is glossy and attractive, with
some minor cracking visible in the lacquer in places. This car is
well equipped with dampened bumpers (standard on the Twelve and
optional on the Super Eight), dual side-mount spare wheels with
painted covers, trunk rack, and dual chrome trumpet horns. The
chrome is very good overall, with bumpers and headlamps in
excellent condition, and only some minor pitting found on smaller
parts. Packard intended the Club Sedan to be a luxury car for the
owner-driver, so accommodations in the front and rear are generous
and comfortable. The cabin is trimmed in lovely blue-gray fabric in
both front and rear, with complementary carpet and headlining. The
upholstery is remarkably well-preserved for what is nearly a
30-year-old restoration, appearing clean, tidy and generally free
of excessive wear. Restored woodwork surrounds the windows, while
wood-grained metal panels (Mr. Lawless' specialty) dress instrument
panel. Factory correct switches, controls, and Waltham instruments
all present in fine condition. Under the hood rests Packard's
sublime 445.5 cubic-inch L-head V12, producing 160 horsepower in
standard form. Photos show the engine was rebuilt at the time of
the restoration, and it remains appropriately detailed in proper
Packard green with period correct plumbing and hardware. Some of
the enamel on the manifolds has worn off in the course of moderate
use, which is not out of the ordinary for an older restoration.
Otherwise, the finishes and detailing remain in very good order. It
is a delight to drive, with prodigious power and the smooth,
easy-driving nature that is expected from a Packard of this era.
Rare and elegant, this Packard Twelve has been well-maintained and
enjoyed by a dedicated enthusiast for the past 40 years. Its
charming, care-worn patina and usable nature make it a prime
candidate for AACA tours, CCCA CARavan touring or similar driving
events and is sure to entertain its next keeper for many more
years.
