For Sale: 1930 Packard 745 Deluxe Eight in Saint Louis, Missouri

In the late 1920s, Packard was riding high on a wave of record sales and profits. With little indication of the economic woes on the horizon, the company forged ahead with the Seventh Series, introduced in August 1929. The range consisted of the 726 and 733 Standard Eight, followed by the uncharacteristically sporty 734 Speedster, then the 740 Custom Eight, and finally the flagship 745 Deluxe Eight. Per usual practice, Packard offered a dizzying variety of coachwork options from their in-house body shop, while independents like LeBaron, Brewster, Rollston, and Dietrich courted buyers with beautiful designs. Smaller boutique shops such as Brunn, Judkins, and Willoughby also had opportunity to grace Packard's outstanding 7th Series with their finest work.
Waterhouse Company of Webster, Massachusetts, was a relative newcomer to the coachbuilding scene, founded by former Judkins employee Charles Waterhouse at the end of 1928. Despite the firm's small size, they quickly gained an enviable reputation for quality, starting on a high note by scoring DuPont Motors as its first client. Waterhouse created several distinctive and elegant designs, but the Convertible Victoria is widely regarded as the firm's signature style. By using long-wheelbase chassis, designer George Briggs Weaver had ample space for the broad, blind-quarter top to disappear entirely below the beltline, the result being elegant, superbly balanced proportions. Waterhouse bodies were highly exclusive, exquisitely crafted, and fabulously expensive. Sadly, less expensive copycat designs combined with the Great Depression claimed Waterhouse in 1933, just five short years since its inception. In the end, Waterhouse created only 296 bodies in their Webster, Massachusetts workshop, 131 of those on Packard chassis. Of those, eleven were sports sedans, and the remaining were Convertible Victorias.
It is believed that just five examples of Packard's renowned 745 Deluxe Eight with the Waterhouse Convertible Victoria coachwork are known to exist, including this stunning example, chassis no. 185625. While the early history of this car is not fully known, it has been owned by several noted collectors over the years and is said to be verified as a genuine Waterhouse.
Throughout the 1970s and into the early 1980s, 185625 was owned by Gene Storm of California, who kept it until 1983. It was reportedly restored in the next owner's care, and traded hands again around 2000, joining the extensive California-based collection of Patrick Phinney. In 2012, it was acquired by the renowned collector Terrence E. Adderley, where the Waterhouse Packard was right at home among his broad array of world-class Classic Era superstars. Following the passing of Mr. Adderley, the Waterhouse Packard was gifted to the Gilmore Museum of Hickory Corners, Michigan, where it has been proudly displayed, and from where it is being offered here.
Strikingly finished in black with a red feature line, and riding on polished disc wheels shod with black wall tires, this marvelous Packard embodies Gatsby Era grandeur and glamour. The older restoration has been beautifully maintained and freshened as needed over the years, and it remains simply stunning. Fantastic period details and accessories abound. First and foremost is the exceedingly rare tubular front bumper with integrated fog lamps, sometimes known as a Woodlite Bumper, or a Ray-Bar Bumper, it was listed in the official Packard Approved Accessory catalogue as the "Packard Bright Bumper." There's also a pair of chrome horns with interesting muffler covers, and a chrome radiator stone guard which plays brilliantly with red-painted radiator slats behind it. The radiator is topped with a Packard Adonis mascot. Further down are dual side-mount spares encased in painted metal covers, looking especially smart against the polished disc wheels. Varnished running boards are adorned with chrome accent strips, and around back there is a trunk rack, dual taillights, and a matching Packard Bright Bumper with integrated stop lights.
Inside, black leather upholstery covers the seats and interior panels along with black carpet and a black painted dash. Amber-colored Bakelite knobs and flashes of wood trim around the windows add a touch of warmth to the sporting atmosphere. The leather has aged remarkably well, having reportedly been reupholstered once since the initial restoration. It shows only light-to-moderate creasing from occasional use. The black canvas top is excellent, and details like interior dome lights (rare on a convertible of this era) point to the quality and detail of the Waterhouse coachwork.
Few engines of the period compare with Packard's 384.8 cubic-inch L-head inline eight for smoothness and refinement. In the 145.5-inch 745 Deluxe Eight chassis, the engine is backed with a four-speed manual transmission, and this car has an additional overdrive unit added to make effective use of the engine's ample torque for high-speed touring. The engine is authentically detailed, and while showing signs of use, it remains very tidy. While detailed Packard records are non-existent, it is noted that the engine number, 185762, is very close to the chassis number (185625), indicating it could be the original unit. This is generally accepted by marque specialists as the closest one gets to having 'matching numbers' in a Packard of this period.
The well-preserved restoration makes this an excellent candidate for enjoyment on CCCA CARavan� tours, and with only five known examples, encountering another is quite unlikely. Exceptionally rare, highly desirable and undeniably beautiful, this Packard 745 Deluxe Eight Waterhouse Victoria is must-have for any devoted Packard collector.

Offers welcome and trades considered.