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Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 645• W

'The Birthday Packard' 1931 Packard 833 Dual Cowl Phaeton Chassis no. 181108 Engine no. 327489

Schätzpreis
135.000 $ - 155.000 $
Zuschlagspreis:
n. a.
Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 645• W

'The Birthday Packard' 1931 Packard 833 Dual Cowl Phaeton Chassis no. 181108 Engine no. 327489

Schätzpreis
135.000 $ - 155.000 $
Zuschlagspreis:
n. a.
Beschreibung:

We all remember one present above all others. Maybe it was your first baseball glove, a spectacular watch that your wife couldn’t really afford, or grandmother’s pearls. But on May 27, 1931, seventeen year-old Jonas Homer Edwards was given a belated birthday present that he would cherish for 42 years and remember until his last days. The young man trekked from his Maine home to Boston to take delivery of a stunning brand new 1931 Packard Model 833 Dual Cowl Phaeton at a time when most boys his age would have been delighted with a new Model A Ford. Although the Depression was worsening, it obviously hadn’t squeezed the Edwards family of Lewiston, Maine. For many families, a small present would have meant missed meals, but apparently, the parents of young Jonas Edwards could well afford the approximately $2,500 that it took to acquire a magnificent Packard 833 Sport Phaeton. They also must have thought very highly of their son. There were bigger Packards and there were Packards that cost more. But who could want more than a 134 1/2 inch wheelbase chassis with elegant coachwork and a powerful 100 horsepower straight-eight with vast reserves of torque? Obviously not young Jonas. At a time when other automakers – even of luxury cars – retained three-speed transmissions, Packard offered four forward gears. Brakes were mechanical on all wheels, which were the optional chrome-plated wire wheels on the Edwards Phaeton. Other optional equipment included hand-made fitted luggage for a young man who clearly wanted to go places. Most young men in the position to buy an expensive new Packard would have wanted to repeat the exercise every few years with yet another new car, be it Packard, Cadillac, Auburn, or even a Duesenberg. Jonas Edwards, however, was not the average young man, and was prepared to grow old with his car. He cherished what writer Gregory Wells called 'The Birthday Packard" for a full 42 years. According to Wells' November 1978 article in Car Collector and Car Classic magazine, he took spectacular care of a car that rarely saw the rain and never required restoration. In 1973, after 42 years with his faithful Packard, Edwards finally decided to sell the car. Reluctant to let just anyone take the controls, he turned it over to a friend who would continue to cherish it as he had. Over the following few decades, the Packard changed hands several times. But each owner continued to lavish such care on the big Packard that Edwards would certainly have approved. Today, it remains in truly marvelous unrestored condition. Still wearing its original paint, it retains its hand-made fitted luggage – which appears to have never carried so much as a handkerchief. One concession to the Packard’s age and that it is still driven is a set of replacement wire wheels with painted rims – in lieu of the original chrome wheels. Go to any car show or concours and you'll see multiple Packards big and small, stately and stylish - almost all of them restored down to the last bolt and rivet. This particular Packard is very different. Few opportunities arise to obtain a 70 year-old car that has been preserved without modification, damage or even fresh paint. Although this Packard isn’t new anymore, it has aged with incredible grace and is stunning whether it stands still or rolls along the highway. Fully-documented in both Car Collector and Car Classic and the December 2004 issue of Road & Track, there is no question that this is a unique and outstanding motorcar. It also merits a very special new owner who will continue to conserve it, preserve it and drive it.

Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 645• W
Auktion:
Datum:
30.04.2005
Auktionshaus:
Bonhams London
San Francisco 220 San Bruno Avenue San Francisco CA 94103 Tel: +1 415 861 7500 Fax : +1 415 861 8951 info.us@bonhams.com
Beschreibung:

We all remember one present above all others. Maybe it was your first baseball glove, a spectacular watch that your wife couldn’t really afford, or grandmother’s pearls. But on May 27, 1931, seventeen year-old Jonas Homer Edwards was given a belated birthday present that he would cherish for 42 years and remember until his last days. The young man trekked from his Maine home to Boston to take delivery of a stunning brand new 1931 Packard Model 833 Dual Cowl Phaeton at a time when most boys his age would have been delighted with a new Model A Ford. Although the Depression was worsening, it obviously hadn’t squeezed the Edwards family of Lewiston, Maine. For many families, a small present would have meant missed meals, but apparently, the parents of young Jonas Edwards could well afford the approximately $2,500 that it took to acquire a magnificent Packard 833 Sport Phaeton. They also must have thought very highly of their son. There were bigger Packards and there were Packards that cost more. But who could want more than a 134 1/2 inch wheelbase chassis with elegant coachwork and a powerful 100 horsepower straight-eight with vast reserves of torque? Obviously not young Jonas. At a time when other automakers – even of luxury cars – retained three-speed transmissions, Packard offered four forward gears. Brakes were mechanical on all wheels, which were the optional chrome-plated wire wheels on the Edwards Phaeton. Other optional equipment included hand-made fitted luggage for a young man who clearly wanted to go places. Most young men in the position to buy an expensive new Packard would have wanted to repeat the exercise every few years with yet another new car, be it Packard, Cadillac, Auburn, or even a Duesenberg. Jonas Edwards, however, was not the average young man, and was prepared to grow old with his car. He cherished what writer Gregory Wells called 'The Birthday Packard" for a full 42 years. According to Wells' November 1978 article in Car Collector and Car Classic magazine, he took spectacular care of a car that rarely saw the rain and never required restoration. In 1973, after 42 years with his faithful Packard, Edwards finally decided to sell the car. Reluctant to let just anyone take the controls, he turned it over to a friend who would continue to cherish it as he had. Over the following few decades, the Packard changed hands several times. But each owner continued to lavish such care on the big Packard that Edwards would certainly have approved. Today, it remains in truly marvelous unrestored condition. Still wearing its original paint, it retains its hand-made fitted luggage – which appears to have never carried so much as a handkerchief. One concession to the Packard’s age and that it is still driven is a set of replacement wire wheels with painted rims – in lieu of the original chrome wheels. Go to any car show or concours and you'll see multiple Packards big and small, stately and stylish - almost all of them restored down to the last bolt and rivet. This particular Packard is very different. Few opportunities arise to obtain a 70 year-old car that has been preserved without modification, damage or even fresh paint. Although this Packard isn’t new anymore, it has aged with incredible grace and is stunning whether it stands still or rolls along the highway. Fully-documented in both Car Collector and Car Classic and the December 2004 issue of Road & Track, there is no question that this is a unique and outstanding motorcar. It also merits a very special new owner who will continue to conserve it, preserve it and drive it.

Auktionsarchiv: Los-Nr. 645• W
Auktion:
Datum:
30.04.2005
Auktionshaus:
Bonhams London
San Francisco 220 San Bruno Avenue San Francisco CA 94103 Tel: +1 415 861 7500 Fax : +1 415 861 8951 info.us@bonhams.com
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