Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Re: Gene in Florida.

Thank you for your private efforts in finding this classic. Unfortunately, the Rollson you mentioned was not the one I have been looking for.

Best wishes on your retirement!

Van

To All: Had the privilage of talking with a close member of the Topping family. Sadly, they could not provide any information on this missing classic.

Will keep looking!

Van

To All:

As a secondary story of interest on this Rollson 1701, when it was purchased Dan Topping traded in a 1934 Packard Town Car Model 1102, No. 374312, Vehicle No. 1101-12., for an allowance of $755.00. The purchase:

Purchase of 1939 Rollson 1701 $5,455.00
Less Trade In 1934 Town Car 755.00

Total cost $4,700.00


It would be nice to know if this 1934 town car still exsists.

Van

Van, are you sure the 34 trade in was a 1102 town car? The only bodies available on the 1102 chassis (141" wb) were a 5-7 passenger sedan (#714) and the limousine version (with divider window), #715. There was no town car listed as such in 1934 on the Eight or Super Eight, but the formal sedan in the Eight model (#712) was on the 1101 (136" wb) chassis. Perhaps the use of the term "town car" was being used in error?

Of course it could have been a custom body. There was a town car listed in 1934, but a Dietrich on the 1108 (Twelve) chassis.

The current PAC directory does not list any #712s surviving but I believe there is at least one down in VA.

To: Owen_Dyneto

This is a direct quote from the original invoice on this missing Rollson 1701:

"Allowance on used Packard Town Car Model 1102, Year 1934, Motor No. 374312, Vehicle No. 1101-12, Credit $755.00."

Regards, Van

Quote:
Model 1102 and Vehicle No. 1101.... shouldn't these numbers be one and the same? Could there have been a slip of the pen back in 1939 leading to confusion today?

To: Ozstatman

I have checked, rechecked, and triple checked these numbers, which are typed on the original invoice.

This story of a missing Rollson 1701, and now a missing or non-exsistant 1934 trade in, is the kind of material that a book could be written about.

Seriously, thanks for your input.

Van

Perhaps the selling dealer just recorded the information incorrectly, but vehicle # 1101-12 would have been a chassis with front end body but no body tub or body rear of the windshield. Perhaps the car in question was sold as a chassis and had a custom town car body mounted? It wouldn't be the first such car, 1101-12 would denote the 2nd such chassis sale.

As mentioned earlier, a town car on a 1934 Eight chassis would have been a custom body. Here are pictures of a 1934 Eight town car (though some might call it a panel brougham) on an 1101 chassis, this one the ex-Vanderbuilt car by Rollston. Interesting the Vanderbilt money would have commissioned such an elegant vehicle on the least expensive Eight chassis, perhaps the short wheelbase was important to them. Somewhat typical of depression-era high $ cars to the wealthy, a miminum of brightwork - like they thought that would make the car less ostentatious! IMO an extremely elegant if quite restrained vehicle. Sorry I can't credit the photographer or source, but I've misplaced that information, perhaps they were provided by Jim Pearsall.

There's quite a bit of documentation on this vehicle, it is said it was in use by the Vanderbilts until 1951.

Attach file:

---

  (42.09 KB)


  (41.16 KB)

Re: Owen

Thanks for the great pictures and story of this 1934 Packard Town Car. Even though this is not the Topping trade in, this seems to fit the mold of a Rollston being traded in on a new Rollson, even given some problems with the ID numbers.

Fascinating!

Van

If you've ever battled traffic in New York City the short wheelbase car will be understood. If you have ever driven a town car the needlessness of the larger motor will be understood as well because above 30 mph the buffeting in the driver's compartment requires the canopy be in place.

These cars usually had very low gearing and so the Eight was more than sufficient and could be pretty much left in third gear once under way.

Doris Duke had a Derham Town Car on the Cadillac 60 Series chassis garaged in NYC. I also recall a very low mileage 36 Eight town car from NYC with 6,800 miles on it. It was a beautiful driving car with a top speed of about 55 mph and was stored in a heated garage. It was cut up to make a hot rod by someone who thought I was a real dummy.