One of the best looking and sporty American cars of the prewar era is the legendary Packard Darrin. Howard "Dutch" Darrin had his beginnings with his family business, the Automatic Switch Company in New Jersey, inventors and makers of electro-mechanical devices such as the solenoid valve and switches used by elevator makers. Dutch displayed an early and natural talent both for designing mechanical devices and for automobiles. In 1923 "Dutch" travelled to Paris and teamed up with Tom Hibbard to head up LeBarons presence in Europe. The pair would go on to form the famed "Hibbard and Darren" where many great designs on exotic chassis were created. When the depression hit a few years later Hibbard returned to the U.S. and Darrin found a new partner, J. Fernandez, and continued to work in Paris until 1937 under the name Fernandez et Darrin. Some of the greatest designs of the 1930's were created by Fernandez et Darrin for movie stars as well as some of the most important people in the world. But, none of these cars left as much of an impact or are as greatly remembered as the roughly one hundred essentially hand built "Packard Darrins" produced from 1938 - 1942. The 1941-1942 models are the most coveted featuring Clipper-inspired styling with the model's signature extended hoodline, low vee'd windshield, and cut-down doors. Just 35 were produced in 1941, followed by a mere 15 of the 1942 models.
Offered here is one of these very few and very rare 1942 Packard Darrins. This particular car, besides being in beautifully restored condition, is also a very good original car with very good provenance. According to Darrin expert Norm Knight, car number 1529-2010 was sold new in southern California and was the 10th Darrin built in 1942 out of the total of 15. It would later be acquired by a Mr. Frank Mace in the early 1950's of New Hampshire who would own the car for almost 20 years eventually selling it to the well known east coast collector Tom Mix of Massachusetts in the late 1960's who would keep it until his passing in 2006. Still retaining all of its original components, most notably its original firewall tag that few Darrins still retain today. The restoration was completed during Mr. Mix's ownership some 25 years ago, but has since been refreshed cosmetically to bring it to a much higher level. Finished in red with a tan interior and black canvas top, this car is nothing short of outstanding. Things such as new tires and a new black canvas top have been installed recently and the paint has been detailed to perfection. Mechanically it runs and drives incredibly well and is equipped with overdrive. This is one of the most desireable and one of the most original Packard Darrins in existence and is on offer publicly for the first time since Tom Mix's ownership. Contact us for more information.
