1938 Packard Super Eight

This is your chance to bid on a piece of history - an all-original, one of one 1938 Packard Super Eight built by the Derham Custom Body Company of Rosemont, Pennsylvania. This car was commissioned by Mrs. Sarah Brinton Audenreid on February 21, 1938, and was one of several custom Derham cars she had built. Built on a 1938 Packard Super Eight chassis, the body was completely custom per her specifications and includes several unusual features. The most noticeable is the art deco body evocative of a car from the 20s; the curved fenders were modeled after her earlier cars and she was adamant that this Packard include them. The car also has custom coach lamps on both sides, taken from her 1924 Pierce Arrow (also a Derham car), and a hidden radio in the rear passenger arm rest. You will also notice that there is no Packard badging on the exterior of the car; she had the hood ornament removed and replaced the original white steering wheel with a black one. The car also sports the original custom rims and tires, both made locally in Philadelphia specifically for the car. We have copies of the majority of the written correspondence between Mrs. Audenreid and James P. Derham outlining her specifications - and no expense was spared. There are also multiple letters from Derham to various vendors regarding custom options for the vehicle. Mrs. Audenreid traded in two other Packards, and paid an additional $7300.00 for this car. A typical Derham car ran about $20,000 dollars (equivalent to over $400,000 in today's money).The car is painted a dark olive green and black two-tone, and has faint yellow pin striping and rims. All color options on the car were completely bespoke, per Mrs. Audenreid's wishes. Additionally, the initials "SBA" can be found on each rear door. The driver's compartment has a removable soft top and custom windshield defrosters, and the rear compartment is outfitted in custom upholstery and wood paneling. There is additional correspondence detailing the upholstery specifications included in the documentation. The letters and receipts between Mrs. Audenreid and Derham can be viewed at the link below: https://cccamuseum.org/Explore/Archives/Archive-Viewer.aspxScroll through the viewer and select the Derham option at the top. Then scroll down and select 1938 Packard. The documentation of the car includes 42 pages and is listed under 1938 Packard (Derham), and there is a single picture of the car listed under the same heading. Above, you will see a picture of the car in Rosemont when it was brand new.The car does not run or drive, but it does roll and comes with a clean title. A new starter has been fitted and the motor turns over. We suspect the car would run with minor work. The car has been stored for the last 50 years, and comes only two owners removed from Mrs. Audenreid. This is a completely one-of-a-kind vehicle, and has been local to the Philadelphia area its entire life. I am happy to answer additional questions regarding the car, and we can share any of the documentation upon request. Please message me with any questions, or call 302-540-0391. This is a truly unique vehicle and there are no others like it. The car is being sold without reserve, as-is. Serious bidders only. Thank you for interest!

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