KTJohnson Loc: Northern Michigan

Designer Howard "Dutch" Darrin had made a few special bodies on Packard-basis, beginning in 1937. He tried to sell Packard on the idea of Darrin-bodied cars being offered directly by Packard, and finally got his way after parking one if his creations outside the Packard dealers' annual conference.[6] For the 1940 model year, three Darrin bodystyles were available: the closed four-door Sport Sedan, the four-door Convertible Sedan, and the two-door Convertible Victoria. About 100 Packard Darrins were built until 1942, when production of private cars ended because of the war. This was much fewer than planned.[6]

Building even this number of cars would have overstretched Darrin's Hollywood workshops so they were built by American Central Manufacturing - one of the last remnants of the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg conglomerate - in Connersville ("Little Detroit") Indiana instead. Darrin would travel back and forth between California and Indiana supervising construction. This work was shifted to Sayers & Scovill in Cincinnati (the company became Hess & Eisenhardt in 1942) to let ACM concentrate on building Jeep bodies.[7] Between 59 and 72 Packard Darrins were built in 1940, of which 44 (or 48) were One-Eighties and the remainder One-Twenties.[6] For the 1941 and 1942 model years the four-door Darrins were discontinued, leaving only the Convertible Victoria.

(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)


(Download)

joecichjr Loc: Chicago S. Suburbs, Illinois, USA

Would love to have one of those just to drive to Walmart Shot perfectly 🖤🖤⭐🖤🖤

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

photophile Loc: Lakewood, Ohio, USA

NMGal Loc: NE NM

Good-looking automobile.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

Beauty, nice shooting.

JFCoupe Loc: Kent, Washington

Beautiful automobiles and very good images, as well.

aammatj Loc: Zebulon, NC / Roscoe, Ill

Beautiful machine and photos. Thanks especially for the story

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

Very nice series and excellent presentation of a classic. The automotive world changed forever because of the war and perhaps some of it's better parts were left behind; Packard, Pierce-Arrow and as you said Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg.

aammatj Loc: Zebulon, NC / Roscoe, Ill

So true

black mamba

Darrin got his initial exposure to design work in Europe. He finally got some connections and wrangled a move to California. His work was stylish...he initiated that notched door look to some of designs. In an effort to court some of the Hollywood elite, he let Clark Gable drive one for two weeks. During that time, the right side door flew open twice as Gable was making a turn. Gable took it back to Darrin and told about what happened. Darrin took it back, said he fixed it, and Gable picked it up again. The door flew open again. Gable told Darrin to come pick it up at his home. News spread amongst the Hollywood bunch and 3 of them cancelled orders they had with Darrin.

terryMc Loc: Arizona's White Mountains

Great images.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Elegant, Kim!

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Fantastic set!!!

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Gorgeous car - well done KT!