Researching Restoration Photographs of a 1938 Twelve

Posted by mhartzold On 2021/4/28 12:00:38

Hello all. I am an antiquarian book and photographs dealer. I ran across these forums while doing some web research on a recent acquisition and thought I would pick y'alls brains. I hope that's OK.

I have four photo albums documenting the restoration of what appears to be a single car identified as a 1938 Packard. Through some internet research, I believe it may be a Model Twelve All-Weather Town Car by Rollston (the engine definitely has 12 cylinders and the interior coach work matches descriptions of Rollstons I've read in auction listings online).


There are two visible dash plaques in the photographs, one from a CCCA "4th Grand Classic" in Lake Forest, IL (date too blurry to read, but possibly 1960) and a 1958 SCCA "Westroads Concours" held right here where I am in St. Louis.

Additionally, there is a raised (theft proof) number on the engine bay firewall that appears to read "411055." Otherwise, I can't make out any identifying information and the original factory plate/decal appears to be off the car in the photos.

I am guessing the majority of the black and white photos capture it pre-restoration and are from sometime in the late 1960's (based on my familiarity with snapshot photography of the 20th Century and some blurry views of other vehicles in a few backgrounds) and the color views of it in restoration seem more like early 1970's.

Here is a link to several photographs of the album pages:https://photos.app.goo.gl/hwRwcd3iLKQz7xgX6

I would love to hear input from anyone who might be able to help me further or more precisely identify this car. Cheers and thanks for looking!