Packard introduced the improved Eighth Series chassis in 1930, and those with the means to acquire a top-of-the-line luxury car could choose between the 840 and 845 Deluxe Eights. Of the 1,053 Packard 845 Deluxe Eights built, most received formal factory coachwork and just 94 were delivered to custom coachbuilders as bare chassis. One of the most exclusive custom bodies offered on the 845 Deluxe chassis was LeBaron’s striking Convertible Coupe.

The earliest known provenance of this magnificent Convertible Coupe, chassis 845-91, dates back to 1940, when it was owned by Walter Paine’s Chevrolet garage in King City, California. The Packard was put into use as a tow truck, due to the robust nature of the chassis. In the early 1940s, Mr. Paine sold the Packard to his friend Leo Meyer, a local tomato farmer. Mr. Meyer initially used the car around his ranch, but after falling in love with its design, removed the crane armature and reinstalled a proper trunk lid in order to use the car in parades, and even installed a tow hitch in order to tow his 1903 Mitchell to events. Around 1965, Mr. Meyer gave the Convertible Coupe to his son Robert. His son had little use for the 35-year-old car and placed it on blocks in a warehouse.

Between November 1977 and May 1980, Mr. Meyer entrusted Hill & Vaughn to completely restore the LeBaron-bodied Packard back to the grand Convertible Coupe it was when new. The Packard made its show field debut at the Silverado Concours d’Elegance on June 1, 1980, and was awarded First in Class. From there, the LeBaron went on to earn a perfect 100-point score at the CCCA Grand Classic in Carmel, California, a First in Class at the famed Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance®, followed by three consecutive First in Class and Best of Show honors at the concours in Walnut Creek, Hillsborough, and Sunol.

In 1985, the Packard was returned to Hill & Vaughn and received extensive cosmetic freshening and mechanical attention. Once more prepared for concours competition, it would continue its winning tradition by capturing First in Class and the Honorary Judges Award at the Palo Alto Concours d’Elegance and a First in Class at the Tucson National Concours d’Elegance. After receiving Premier Crown status at the annual CCCA National Meet in 1991, Meyer decided to retire the car from judged competition.

Under the current owner, this Packard 845 has received a new radiator and re-trimmed soft top. The owner has taken the car on numerous historic driving events including the Mozart Classic, and Millennium tours. This exceptionally rare, concours-winning, LeBaron-bodied Packard is an American classic that is not to be overlooked.