- A rare and highly collectable Darrin 180 Victoria
- A crown jewel of the Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum since its opening
- Driven and admired in the exclusive 2004 and 2013 Pasadena Tournament of Roses
- Seen by millions in the 2020 Emmy-winning Netflix series, "Hollywood"
- A CCCA Full Classic® suited for touring events
LOT 154
Selling on Friday
From the Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum; Coachwork by Darrin
1940 Packard Darrin 180 Victoria Convertible
OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE
By the end of the 1930s, America was well on the road to prosperity once again and Packard Motors had weathered the storm, thanks to the introduction of lower-priced models that had the same build quality as their senior cars. While Packard was known for their stately vehicles, there were those who wanted a special vehicle built in the tradition of quality one came to expect from Packard. Howard "Dutch" Darrin had built several custom-ordered bodies on Packard chassis and, in late 1936, he approached Packard about offering a limited run of some of his custom creations. The company did not seem that interested in this proposal, so Darrin, a self-promoting entrepreneur, took one of his custom creations to the annual Packard Dealers Convention and parked it right outside the front door. The response was just what he had hoped for, and the Packard-Darrin relationship was created. While several body styles were offered, it was the limited runs of the convertible Victoria that really captured the public's attention, with bodies featuring soft lines that blended sheet metal and speed into one package and also promoted the famous "Darrin Dip" in the door design. Darrin's design seemed to become more refined with each model that was released, but many believe the 1940 model achieved perfection in design.
A crown jewel in the Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum since its opening, this sporty 1940 Packard Darrin 180 Victoria Convertible was acquired by the museum's founder, Mr. Zimmerman, in 2001 from a California-based collector. According to former Packard Club Vice President, prior owners include Bob Adams Sr. of Franksville, Wisconsin, on two separate occasions and Sterling Wells of Scottsdale, Arizona.
Just like Dutch Darrin intended for these cars, this example has been used in an array of movies, weddings, and parades, most notably in the Emmy-winning Netflix series, "Hollywood" and series "Why Women Kill." Combine that with its two national televised appearances in the 2004 and 2013 Pasadena Tournament of Roses parades, and it is safe to say this Packard has been admired by millions. Another national claim to fame is that this example was featured in the 1987 Automobile Quarterly, Issue 7-1.
Often used for parades, a getaway car in weddings, or CCCA touring events, the 160-horsepower, 356-cubic-inch inline eight-cylinder engine is reported to start up, idle smoothly, and shift right into gear, via the column-mounted three-speed manual transmission, allowing for its next owner to enjoy it on many more tours in the future. Produced at the end of the Classic Era and having been under the care of the Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum for the last 24 years, this 1940 Packard Darrin 180 Victoria Convertible, with its list of Hollywood appearances, would make for a great addition to one's collection, or in one's rotation of Full Classic® touring vehicles.
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