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http://www.ebay.com/itm/1939-Packard-/142181146901?forcerrptr=true&hash=item211aa82115:g:MEUAAOSwcUBYHzah&item=142181146901

Just saw this beautiful 1939 1238 Model 12 Packard on ebay. Just wondering, considering its condition, what that car might sell for.

kind regards
Garrett Meadows

PS: Please be civil if you'd like to respond.

I really like that car!! I like to think it could command a decent premium over an older restoration. Maybe something north of $75,000?

Thank you for your response. Yes, it's a wonderful car. It's going to be interesting to see how the bidding progresses.

kind regards
Garrett Meadows

Who would have been the target for that style couple. Being a twelve, obviously someone of means but the rakish young blades or the younger crowd in general would seem more the roadster or convertible types. The dignified bank president or those with families more the sedan or large body cars. The article said something along the lines of only a few were known to have been built so just curious who Packard would be thinking of with that styling.

single executives on the prowl for younger women. at least I'd be driving a CTS-V coupe or similar if i was single with no kids at 35 yo. maybe it is the same back then. CTS-V coupe is not a high production car either i'm sure.

I like that 39 Twelve 1238 Coupe too! Maybe it was a second car for dad to drive to work?

Now Kev can steal one of the photos to fill in the blank at the Packard Model Info section.

Also notice it has the column shift.

(o[]o)

The body looks almost identical to all the senior 2/4 Coupes from 1935 to 1939. It certainly looks the same body as my (and BDCs) 1935 Eight version; and it would make sense for the steel panel press dies to be reused over those years. The major visual differences are the divided windscreen (a retrograde aesthetic step in my opinion) and the rear-opening doors. Maybe there are subtle differences to accommodate the longer wheelbase chassis? Or is the extra length all forward of the cowl? I'm sure experts will know.

It is clear that this body style was produced in relatively small numbers over all three engine sizes from 1935 to 1939.
The market demographic for these is an interesting question. In the case of my coupe, I have a vague understanding that it was bought new by two unmarried and childless brothers who made a substantial fortune in the emerging super-phosphate fertiliser industry in the 1920s and 1930s. They founded a fertiliser company that is still prominent in the industry to this day. On their passing they left the coupe to their housekeeper, my great aunt. I believe they also owned a Packard limousine and a Rolls Royce of some kind. Sorry none of this applies to the 39 Twelve in question, so I'll desist.

John

@John
Yes it's the same wheelbase as our 35 eight coupe,but the fenders, hood louvers, dash,windshield are different. Also this was the last year for the wood framed models (V12's), column shift instead of floorshift, from 1937 on the independent front suspension etc. In a quick glance they lookalike but there are a lot of differences between the 35 & 39 coupe. Also the 35 V12 coupe is on a longer wheelbase.

If I recall correctly, column shift on a 1939 Twelve was an expensive option due to the design of the trans which dated back to 1932. I more regularly see cane shift in the '39 Twelves than column.

I'm going to look up the production estimates in the '38 and '39 Twelve 2-4 pass coupes, will update here later.

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Data based on highest surviving VN, per Charlie Blackman's analysis.

1938 Su8 --- 46
1938 Twelve ---8
1939 Twelve --- 12

Mine is a bit later, same dealer

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