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

At the very least, firewalls weren't installed until final assembly. This, of course, is just my opinion. I suppose it could be argued that the 1934 bodies were built in 1932 and then highly modified...

The theft proof number is stamped on a steel firewall, but behind the steel one is a wooden one. Perhaps that explains it? They had wooden firewalls on, and the steel one may have been applied during final assembly.

I agree, that's the conclusion the facts (that we have) support.

Though, the Dietrichs have long hoods and short cowls, and I believe that was only in 1934, right?

I just ran into a man who was familiar with the car in the Wheatley era. I'll see him at the CCCA Grand Classic in NJ tomorrow and see if he has anything to add.

I'll leave the question on the cowl/hood of 32 vs 34 to West who knows this stuff far better than I.

There is one 1934 Dietrich with a short hood. Ralph Marano owns it. It's a rather odd looking extra long convertible sedan. Nice resto, though, and interestng brownish red color.

Boy have I been finding out a lot of information about our car over the past week. I spoke with Ricardo LaCosta Jr.'s grandson about the car. He had never seen it, but his grandfather used to speak about it. Apparently LaCosta Jr. had a penchant for buying custom cars. He also bought a 1940 Packard 180 Rollson Club Sedan that wound up in the collection of the late Bob Russell.

At Dave's suggestion, I spoke to Mr. Pearsall. He had a very interesting thought. Apparently Packard had an event called a "Traveling Salon" that ran from Detroit to New York, stopping at the big dealers along the way - held in the winters. He said the Car of the Dome was sold at the 1934 tour (in Allentown, PA, I believe).

This could very well explain how our car made it to New York, and purchased by LaCosta Jr.

I contacted the Allentown and Reading public libraries to see if they happen to have any photos from the 1934 and 1935 Traveling Salons. Stranger things have happened.

I appreciate everyone's insight on this, it has been fun tracking down the history of this car. And difficult!

The next enigma... finding out what color it was originally. I am thinking it was Flama Brown, as that was one of the two Conv. Vic. colors in '34, and the other (Dusk Rose) is simply too light to fit in with the picture.

Now I just need a color chip of Flama Brown (and Phillippine Brown which was used for the mouldings) so we can start fiddling.

I have this scan of color chips... but who knows how accurate they are?

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I have this scan of color chips... but who knows how accurate they are?

True, but what better source of information is there?

I meant the scan distorts the colors. Would love to see them in person, unfortunately the company only has that one set.

You could try and see if the company would be willing to scan the page with a known color strip or grey card. A good printer could then print the scan and the colors would be about as accurate as you can get them with a scan.

Tom

Jeremy,
for including the '34 Dietrich Convertible Victoria in the Owner Registry.