Re: Custom Bodied 734 Packards

Posted by West Peterson On 2008/11/18 8:29:03

That's news to me about so many "custom" 734 Speedsters (I'm assuming you mean different than the custom bodies that they were delivered with). I've never heard about this.

However, I am familiar with the roadster that C.A. Leslie owned in Texas, which was not of normal roadster configuration.

In addition, I'm familiar with a couple of Speedsters that were customized as they took on later year styling by the factory. One such vehicle was a boattail that kept getting updated, finally ending up looking similar to a LeBaron boattail of 1934, pontoon fenders and V12 engine included. That car's whereabouts is not known.

The other car updated by the factory was a phaeton, still existing and formerly in the Otis Chandler collection. It also was modified to feature the LeBaron-style pontoon fenders, V-windsheild and V12 engine. It was a beautiful restoration, but the old-style body with the V-windshield and pontoon fenders looked kind of funny in my opinion. I believe it is currently listed as a 1934 1108 model, rather than a 734 Speedster.

You've piqued my interest on this. I hope to learn more about Custom Speedsters.