Coachwork by Dietrich

Engine - 445.5 cubic-inch Twelve cylinder
Transmission - 3-Speed synchro-mesh
Horsepower - 160
Production - One of Three for 1933

“Ask the man who owns one”

For 1933, in addition to rebranding the Twin-Six as the Packard Twelve, Packard made many improvements to the drivetrain of its top-of-the-line model. These included a reinforced frame, mechanical refinements resulting in improved engine power, a boosted single-disc clutch, and automatic choke. Style-wise, the most noted change was the side-skirted front fenders, a change that consumers would see continue across many marques as aerodynamics took center stage in design.

With a marque like Packard, one could expect only the best at its public showings. For 1933, the company opted to showcase three custom bodied Dietrich Sport Phaetons on the 1006 Twelve chassis. The example seen here, destined for the New York City Auto Salon, is one of those three. All are known to still exist and reside in long-standing collections, rarely changing ownership. The Dietrich firm’s designs held true to those of Ray Dietrich, even after his departure from his own firm in 1931. All Packard Dietrich designs can be easily spotted by their vee’d front windshield, but the Sport Phaeton has a very unique feature: a retractable rear passenger compartment windshield with articulating arms that swing away as the front-hinged rear doors are opened. With a simple detachment, the rear side windows and rear windshield can be retracted into the rear of the front seat. The front compartment is trimmed in wood and the convertible top folds to near flush with the phaeton's beltline.

This Sport Phaeton, chassis 1006-2, is the second of the three produced and was sold from the Packard Motor Car Company New York agency on April 1, 1933. Its early history is unknown, but in the 1970s it was purchased by Peter Rosi of Chicago from the George Waterman collection, both respected names in the early world of automobile collecting. This Packard Twelve has never been fully restored, just cosmetically and mechanically refreshed as needed.