- Offered from the William B. Ruger Jr. Collection
- Sympathetic restoration by Chris Charlton
- Wonderful year-correct color scheme
- An ideal CARavan automobile
- Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Full Classic
This 1939 Packard Twelve's history is traced through a notebook
kept by former owner William Creswell, noting that he bought it
from Brooklyn resident William D. Pelosi, its second owner, on 13
September 1968. Mr. Creswell's maintenance of the car is further
documented in the notebook with studious notes through May 1991. A
collection of various registrations and invoices from both the
Pelosi and Creswell ownerships is also included in the file, along
with original owner's and shop manuals and the Approved Service
booklet from its 1950s services for Mr. Pelosi at a Brooklyn
Packard dealership.
William B. Ruger Jr. acquired the Twelve from the Creswell family
in 2005. The chassis was restored to test the various modifications
Mr. Ruger had dreamed up for the model. Afterward he sourced an
original 1938 Packard Super Eight Touring Sedan body virtually
identical to that used on the 1939 Twelve and had it restored on
the chassis by Chris Charlton in year-correct Blackhawk Gray with
tufted broadcloth upholstery. The work was performed
sympathetically, with fine paintwork but much original trim left
intact; as in typical Ruger fashion, the intention was to drive and
enjoy the car.
Mr. Ruger put about 2,700 miles on the car, obviously enjoying its
performance and intending to take it on a coast-to-coast tour on
U.S. Route 2. Its restoration remains in very good overall
condition, with the only notable signs of use being to the engine
compartment and undercarriage.
While Mr. Ruger never had the chance to drive this Packard across
the country, as had been intended, the opportunity is certainly
there for a new owner to do so�or to take this car on a CCCA
CARavan or similar long-distance jaunt. It has plenty of power and
room for the entire family to ride comfortably along.To view this
car and others currently consigned to this auction, please visit
the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/hf19.
