[Closed] PICS - Another "exotic custom built...Packard

Many thanks, Randall. I've never seen this one before.

How does one get into the rear seat? Was the panel with the second windshield opening?

What a stunning model!

That is beautiful!

Am so glad to see your models and displays Randall. Another beauty.

Comments on the dual cowl / dual windshield phaeton (pics)

photo no longer available

This blue Ford is a good example of the 4-door convertible, a popular family car in the 1910's and 20's that continued to be part of most auto line-ups well into the 1930's, even though sales declined as sedans became less expensive. If canvas windows were the only way to enclose the car under its convertible roof, by the 1930's most manufacturers referred to the model as a phaeton. If the doors had roll-up windows and a folding or insertable upper center door post, the car was most often referred to as a convertible sedan.

photo no longer available

This presidential parade favorite is a lengthened convertible sedan with an extra- a second windshield. This was meant to offer protection from the wind and/or blowing weather. Cars so equipped were usually referred to as "dual windshield models."

photo no longer available
This Packard has 4 doors without windows and a second windshield; it also has a second cowl behind the front passenger compartment; this was meant to both shelter and also to separate the second compartment. Various methods were used to operate the dual cowl/ dual windshield models, but the most common was to manually fold the second windshield forward, flat against the second cowl. Then the cowl could be raised on its front hinges to open the rear doors. This was both complex and cumbersome in operation, but the result was a most prestigious automobile. The vast majority (perhaps all) were built by private coach firms under contracts with Packard, Cadillac, Pierce Arrow, and other top-dollar car companies, or directly for the owners through a private arrangement.

photo no longer available

"Phaeton," "dual cowl," and other such terms often have their meanings changed over the years. Using them the way I have would suggest the last 4-door convertibles were the 1949-51 Frazer and the Continental of the early 1960's, both being "convertible sedans." A few Imperial dual windshield phaetons were built as parade cars, including at least one for New York City, in the mid-1950's. More recently, the term "phaeton" has been applied to closed sedans, perhaps aspiring to a higher level of sophistication.

Please feel free to offer more examples, amplify, disagree, or, as some of my students used to do, just ignore the whole process. Enjoy!

Great description and examples, David! I always have wondered...

how rear passengers communicated with the people in front, especially with the rear cowl window in place. I know that these phaetons often sported another speedometer in the rear compartment for the amusement (bemusement?) of rear passengers, but did they also have an intercom?

I have never seen an intercom on an open model, but have on closed ones. These open models at any speed must have had a lot of wind turbulence, resulting in a noisy ride. Oh what we give up for the sake of making an appearance!

PICS Just for completeness: MM43 1932 Packard Phaeton Colin Flannery brown/red

photo no longer available
photo no longer available
photo no longer available
photo no longer available

The model has a small plate on the underside reading
"Built By Colin Flannery"
photo no longer available

And one more from Minimarque - "Blackie"

photo no longer available

Nice! I didn't see this one before.

Exceptional model - thanks for posting Harv.

Another superb build Randall - thanks for the information and images.

I agree with Randall, David - this is the sort of history that fascinates me and ...

I have a wonderful book explaining all these terms as applied to car design.

Chris