A historic 1917 Packard 2-25 Twin Six Runabout Race Car will be one of the stars at The Hilton Head Sports & Classic Car Auction this November.
An exhibit at the National Packard Museum’s Car Show display “Packards at Speed” in 2002, participant in the inaugural Pebble Beach Motoring Classic and invited guest at the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, the Packard represents a rare opportunity to acquire a historic racecar professionally and effectively modified for competition some eighty years ago.
“It has a wonderful sporting style, seating for two, ingenious features and unusually competent construction”, said Rod Egan, Managing Partner and Chief Auctioneer. “This, along with a Pebble Beach quality restoration makes it an exceptional multi- purpose automobile, ideal for modern tours, events and historic racing”.
Packard records indicated that chassis number 32168 was shipped to Argentina in November 1916 via Baltimore, to be discovered decades later in its current configuration, showing the effects of years of active competition. In 1962, Argentine customs declined to release the Packard to its new American owner, beginning a convoluted masquerade which saw many of its significant components removed, crated up and shipped piecemeal to Houston. The car itself made the journey heavily disguised with junk parts and a brush applied coat of paint. Finally restored in time for the 2005 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, it is today visually arresting in cream over red, upholstered with tan leather and thoughtfully reassembled from parts carefully packed away over sixty years ago in Argentina. An extensive file of information, correspondence and transcribed oral history accompany the car, documenting its story from the early 1960’s.
The Hilton Head Sports & Classic Car Auction is held in conjunction with the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival, at 11 a.m. on Saturday November 1st on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina. Full details on advance bidder registration and general admission can be obtained by visiting www.wwgauctions.com or calling (800) 990-6789. Details on all consignments may be discussed with either Rod Egan or John Kruse on (260) 927-0000, whilst media and sponsorship inquiries should be directed to Jo Snyder on (512) 507-7867.
The Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance & Motoring Festival runs from Thursday October 30th to Sunday November 2nd. Full details are available at www.hhiconcours.com.
