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From Walt Gosden:

This was a popular style at the the time (1926-28) by Kellner of Paris (there were two Kellners) - Ray Wolf mounted one on Dusenberg J422 when he restored it from a bunch of bits salvaged from Europe. These were also built by D'Ieteren of Belgium (who by the way as of 2005 were still in business). They had a body very similar (but not quite as squared off) that they built and mounted on a 30hp Minerva chassis in 1926. This is shown in their excellent history hard cover book published in 2005 for their 200th anniversary in French, Dutch, and a few editions in English.

Walt

I found a photo of the Duesenberg. I knew I had seen a very similar-type body, but couldn't think beyond the 1938 Packard that Gordy Hormel and Bill Harrah once owned. The Packard body came off of a Renault, for which I also found a photo once posted by JW. Both of these cars, however, have a little bit different rear windscreen than that of the 1927 car. The windscreen on the 1927 car is much closer to the passenger, while on the Renault and Duesenberg it is basically on top and toward the front of the cowl. The '27 almost looks like a hansom cab/carriage type compartment.

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David & West: I am very suprised that the picture of Kellner bodied car is something new to both of you.

The picture of the Kellner Packard has been in one book about Packard for years. I direct you to page 200 of the book titled Packard by George H Dammann & James Wren. The book was published in 1996 by Motorbooks International. I bought my copy in 1999 and in many ways consider it a better book on Packard than the orginal Kimes book on Packard.

If I had to part with one of the two books the one that would stay in my library is the Dammann & Wren book.

John F. Shireman

Hi

That style seems to have been almost completely the province of Kellner of Paris who named it 'Scaphandier', I believe.

Personally, the body layout never made much sense to me. Basically it's a phaeton with an oddly small enclosed top over the rear seat only, not even including the rear cowl. Something of an enclosed version of the cape or victoria phaeton popular around the WWI period.

Most custom bodies Kellner built were beautifully proportioned and detailed, these stand as the exception.

Steve

This maybe the most famous custome body that kellner built.


John F. Shireman

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John. Thanks for the tip. Every once in a while an important book escapes my grasp, and this is one of them. I remember when it was published, but for some reason, I have never had the opportunity to buy one, and I've never even picked one up, let alone seen a used one for sale. I'll put a search out for one.

Here is a more modern version of the Kellner idea done by Franay.


John F. Shireman

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I purchased a close to mint Damman and Wren "Packard" book off of ebay about 6 months ago for $75. If you can find one get it, as they haven't reprinted them since the mid-80s. I agree with John that it is a very nice book to round out a Packard collection. Lots of great photos that I have seen no where else.

Hi Guscha

Thanks for giving the correct spelling of 'scaphandrier', when I typed it it didn't look right but I couldn't find my reference with the correct spelling. Thanks for the translation as well, 'torpedo' was a popular description for phaetons in America as well.

On Packard books: YOU CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY!!!!! Each covers facets, but no one book can cover every aspect of it's fascinating history. Reading everything and studying all photos is the only way to develop a fairly complete understanding. It also helps one know when to recognize and dismiss the perfunctory opinions about why the automaker failed.

Or, one can do as a Studebaker enthusiast friend of mine does, when ask why Studebaker went out of the car business he replies "People were stupid and didn't buy 'em, that's why".

He's a nice guy, something of a character, but not one of the great minds of the century!

Steve

It ain't a Packard, but thanks for that great Renault photo! When we reflext on the very large & exclusive European CCCA Classics like Hispano, Isotta, Rolls, Mercedes, Maybach, Minerva and the like, there is a tendency sometimes to forget about Renault. I remember a very large 8-cylinder Renault phaeton formerly owned by Lili Pons that was under restoration many years back at Dragonne Bros. in Stamford CT. - a truly impressive gigantic car. One feature that I remember was that there was no fan immediately behind the radiator. Rather the hood sides were enclosed and there was a full belly pan beneath the engine and the fan blades were incorporated into the flywheel - not absolutely unique to the large Renault but certainly uncommon engineering on a very impressive vehicle.