Vehicle No. 280-2
Engine No. 902213
Body No. 2

Among the most breathtaking designs of the American Classic Era was the Packard Individual Custom Sport Phaeton, commissioned under the direction of Packard styling chief Edward Macauley and executed by the renowned LeBaron Carrossiers of Detroit. These exclusive automobiles showcased pioneering aerodynamic principles that would influence automotive design for years to come, including fully skirted pontoon fenders, a disappearing top mechanism integrated into the fastback profile, and a rakish “V” windscreen.

Only available on Packard's most prestigious 147-inch wheelbase Model 1108 Twelve chassis, a mere five Sport Phaetons were commissioned through LeBaron's Detroit workshops, each one meticulously handcrafted to their owners' individual specifications at a remarkable cost of $8,000. Of the original quintet, four examples are known to survive today, with the fifth having been tragically lost during World War II while in European ownership. The surviving examples are among the most valuable pre-war automobiles extant, with values well into the seven-figure range when these extraordinary Packards occasionally emerge for public sale.

In the 1980s, master craftsman Fran Roxas—long recognized as one of North America's foremost specialists in pre-war Packard restoration and preservation—embarked on a project to recreate the coveted Individual Custom Sport Phaeton coachwork. Drawing upon his decades of experience executing Pebble Beach and CCCA award-winning restorations, Roxas undertook the reconstruction of these exceptional LeBaron-inspired bodies utilizing genuine Packard Twelve chassis as their foundation. According to its reproduction data plate, this particular example, vehicle number 280-2, was crafted by Roxas Restoration on 1 June 1982—although the work of handcrafting the coachwork surely took much longer. Under its exquisitely fabricated coachwork rests a correct 147-inch wheelbase Model 1108 chassis and a 446 cu-in L-head V12 engine with a single two-barrel Stromberg downdraft carburetor, rated at 160 horsepower. Other details include its dual Pilot Ray driving lamps, dual Sportlite remote spot lights, wind wings, and chrome wire wheels wrapped in wide whitewall tires.

Acquired by the Academy of Art University Collection in 2009, the charming beige over maroon leather restoration has aged rather nicely and has been selectively shown at the Hillsborough and Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance. As a masterfully executed tribute to what many consider Packard's finest coachwork styling achievement of the Classic Era, this world-class Packard with exquisitely recreated coachwork would make a significant addition to any collection focused on important American coachbuilt motorcars, offering the opportunity to experience the extraordinary presence of the Sport Phaeton at a fraction of the investment required to acquire one of the exceptionally rare original examples.