The 1920 Packard 3-35 Twin Six Transformable Town Car by Fleetwood recently sold for $145,600 USD at an RM Sotheby’s auction. The car was reportedly built for A. Atwater Kent, a wealthy radio personality who owned what was said to be the largest fleet of Packards in the late 1920s. The car was custom built with a longer chassis and larger hood than standard models, along with other luxurious details like steel rubber-encased bumpers, drum headlamps, and disc wheels.
According to Beverly Rae Kimes’ article “Five Great Packards” in a 1981 issue of Automobile Quarterly, the Atwater Kent family purchased the car in 1919 and it was delivered in 1920. It was seen only in the best places and was likely the haughtiest car in all of Philadelphia. The former Fleetwood employee George Wendling, an early automobile restorer, saw the car and recalled fond memories. The car was believed to have been featured at the 1920 New York Auto Salon before being sold to Martin L. Schaffer of Lafayette Hills, Pennsylvania.
Stanley Tarnopol, a Philadelphia furrier and early car collector, acquired the Packard from Schaffer and reportedly offered the owner’s lady a choice of stole or coat from his stock to secure the sale. Tarnopol owned the car until at least 1975 and even drove it from Boston to New Orleans in 1972.
Today, the Packard is still in running and driving order and sports its original restoration from the early 1960s, featuring black lacquer with red-orange wheels, wool cloth upholstery, and rich woodwork in the rear compartment. While it shows its age with minor checking on many panels, all doors still open and close well. The car would be a great addition to a collection of Packards or distinctive American coachwork.
Overall, the 1920 Packard 3-35 Twin Six Transformable Town Car by Fleetwood is a luxurious piece of automotive history with a charming story and a variety of impressive features that make it a desirable vehicle for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
Posted by a beautiful view on 2022-12-02 00:24:32