Vehicle Description
While Howard "Dutch" Darrin is best known for his postwar work with
Kaiser-Frazer, the foundation of his career formed in Paris. There,
he encountered Tom Hibbard, founder of LeBaron and a former
colleague at Brewster. The two eventually formed Hibbard & Darrin,
and when that operation folded, Dutch stayed behind and founded
Fernandez & Darrin. When demands for custom coachwork dwindled in
the late 1930s, Darrin returned to the USA in 1937 and established
an independent studio in Hollywood, California. Through his
contacts in the film industry, he received several commissions for
unique coachwork. That same year, actor Chester Morris requested a
bespoke two-seat Convertible Victoria built on a Packard One-Twenty
chassis. The rakish and sporty design inspired Darrin to approach
Packard about adding a five-seat variation of the car to the
lineup. The famously conservative Packard board politely declined,
which did not stop Darrin from showing up in Detroit with a
prototype, just in time for the Packard dealer council meeting.
Even still, the board was reluctant, but a positive press reaction
and clamoring from dealers eventually persuaded them to make a deal
with Darrin. Darrin and Packard officially joined forces for the
1940 model year, with a deal for three cars in the custom catalog.
These included a 5-passenger sports sedan, convertible sedan, and
of course, the Chester Morris inspired two-door convertible.
Officially designated the Convertible Victoria by Darrin, the
beautiful and sporty car featured stunning lines, with skirted rear
fenders, no running boards, and a distinct kick-up in the beltline
that accentuated the curvaceous rear haunches. Initially, buyers
had the option of fitting the Darrin Convertible Victoria body to
either the One-Twenty chassis or on the flagship One-Eighty
chassis. The Darrin-Packards were by far the most radically styled
of the catalog, and the famously stubborn Dutch Darrin caused
engineers a fair bit of grief with his insistence on retaining key
design elements, without regard to production expenses or
practicality. In 1941, all Packards received fresh new front-end
styling with headlamps integrated into the front fenders, bringing
the marque well into the streamline era. To help the flagship 180
Super Eight stand apart from the mechanically identical 160, six of
the eleven catalog body styles were "customs," available only by
special order from outside coachbuilders. Along with Le Baron and
Rollston, Darrin returned for another year, offering the
Convertible Victoria on the 127-inch wheelbase chassis, along with
the larger 138-inch Sports Sedan, both taking full advantage of the
beautiful new design language. The Convertible Victoria was easily
the most glamorous model of the whole Packard range thanks to its
flamboyant, Hollywood-inspired lines. However appealing it was, it
was not a strong seller, and a mere 35 examples found buyers that
year, with each one virtually hand-built to order. Darrin-bodied
Packards of all kinds are highly desirable, but it is the
One-Eighty Convertible Victoria of 1941 and 1942, with the
Clipper-inspired front end and glamorous Hollywood persona that
commands the most attention from collectors. On May 29, 1941, Mr.
Howard Viet of Pebble Beach, California, purchased this striking
Packard Custom Super Eight One-Eighty Convertible Victoria from
official dealer Stahl Motors of Monterey. Recently retired after
selling his New York textile business, Mr. Viet no doubt fit right
in on the Monterey Peninsula with his glamorous new Packard. After
the war, he was appointed by President Truman to go to Germany and
aid in rebuilding their textile industry. Howard Viet died in the
early 1950s, yet his family was reluctant to sell his beautiful
Packard. In 1955, Viet's friend and colleague Mark Raggett of
Carmel, California, was able to buy the car from Mrs. Viet. She
only felt comfortable selling it because the two men had been such
good friends. For more information on how to buy classic cars for
your collection of vintage cars, contact us today. Our classic car
consignment program is a seamless service designed for collectors
to leverage our global network and broker a private sale. Raggett
and his family enjoyed the Darrin as an everyday car for several
years, repainting it dark brown and replacing the soft top along
the way. They were very proud custodians of the Packard and showed
it at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 1956 - and perhaps
other years. During their tenure, Stahl Motors replaced the damaged
original block with a factory replacement. Around 1965, the car was
sold to Patrick Young and noted collector Tom Mix. The pair
collected the car in Carmel and drove it back to New Hampshire,
with the only reported issue being a reluctant overdrive. Shortly
afterward, Young bought out his partner's share in the car and
freshened it up with some light engine work and cosmetic
refurbishment. Following Mr. Young's time with the Packard, it
changed hands a few more times, with subsequent owners all
well-documented in the history file. Along the way, the car
remained remarkably original, with only light restoration work done
as required to keep it in good running order. In 1990, then-owner
Bill Weltyk of Oak Brook, Illinois, sourced a correct
1941-specification block to replace the 1948 unit fitted by Stahl
Motors. It wasn't until 2001 when the Darrin Packard got its first,
well-earned full restoration. After stripping the body to bare
metal, it received a fresh coat of period-correct Saratoga Beige
paint, a new interior, and restored interior trim. The late Neil
DeAtley acquired the Darrin in 2007, maintaining it in his
collection for the better part of a decade. He used it occasionally
in CCCA Arizona Region shows and tours, keeping the restoration
well-preserved and attractive. It remains in lovely condition
today, with a warm character from use and care that befits its
exceptional history. Paint, upholstery, and brightwork all show
very well, with signs of care and enjoyment. Darrin famously
eschewed frivolity in his designs, with no side-mount spares or
heavy trim to spoil the simple yet stunningly beautiful lines, and
this car's understated color scheme suits the design very well.
Experts consider this car to have the best-known ownership history
of any surviving 1941 Packard-Darrin, and it would be a most
welcome addition to any collection of significant Packard
automobiles. Alternately, it would be a superb CARavan tour car,
offering up style, performance, and luxury in equally generous
portions. Offers welcome and trades considered For additional
details please view this listing directly on our website
https://hymanltd.com/vehicles/6646-1941-packard-180-convertible-victoria-by-darrin/