Vehicle No. 1703-2012
Engine No. B505429 A

The late 1930s saw a shift in the automotive market amidst the Great Depression, with mid-priced vehicles gaining popularity as high-end luxury sales declined. Packard responded by introducing its Seventeenth Series in September 1939, signaling the end of Twelve production. The Super Eight now represented the top of the Packard range, marketing it as "the super car of 1939" in period advertising. Also in decline was the prevalence of custom coachwork, though this twilight period produced some of the most memorable automotive designs before standardized production took hold.

After returning from Paris to Hollywood in 1937, Howard "Dutch" Darrin revolutionized Packard's conservative design language through his bespoke creations on the Packard 120 chassis. His rakish and sporty designs earned him an elite Hollywood clientele including actors Dick Powell, Clark Gable, and Chester Morris, with the Convertible Victoria standing as a particular masterpiece. The sporting two-door, four-seater convertible featured many of Darrin's innovative styling elements, including the distinctive "Darrin dip" aft of the doors in the beltline, along with cleanly integrated trunks and the bold omission of running boards. While Packard's conservative executives initially resisted his dramatic departures from tradition, Darrin's designs proved so compelling that the company ultimately incorporated them into their official 1940 catalog. These early "Hollywood” Darrins, of which only about 30 are estimated to have been built from 1937-1939, stand among the final masterpieces of the custom coachbuilding era.

A data tag on the firewall indicates that this remarkable Packard Darrin was originally dispatched to E.C. Anthony Inc. of Los Angeles, California on 10 November 1939. According to previous research, chassis number 1703-2012 was originally purchased by famed animal trainer and circus impresario Clyde Beatty. As America's preeminent lion tamer of the 1930s-1950s, Beatty revolutionized big cat acts with his innovative chair technique while performing with the Clyde Beatty-Cole Bros. Circus. His daring performances, featuring up to 40 wild animals with only a chair, whip, and pistol, made him the ideal owner for such a dramatic automobile.

The subject of a comprehensive, photo-documented restoration under previous ownership, this Packard Darrin has garnered prestigious accolades including CCCA National First Prize and Best California Custom honors. While the paint exhibits minor checking, the brown leather interior, carpeting, Bakelite dashboard, and engine compartment present well. Period-correct details include dual Trippe Safety Lights, Firestone Deluxe Champion wide whitewall tires, and accessory bumper guards. Carefully preserved in the Academy of Art University Collection since 2007, this rare Packard-Darrin represents both the pinnacle of pre-war American coachbuilding and a particularly compelling example of Dutch Darrin's "Hollywood" creations.