1912 Packard "Model 30 7-Passenger-Touring"
Awards: 1973, 1999 & 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance: Best in Class; 2022 Greenwich Concours d'Elegance: Best in Class
Restored under ownership by Formula 1 World Champion Phil Hill
Luxurious Interior with rear heater
The 1912 Packard Model 30 Seven-Passenger Touring was the height of American luxury during the Brass Era. It is thought to be the only surviving seven-passenger Model 30, keeping alive one of Packard’s best touring cars. It won Best in Class at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1976, 1999, and 2013, a rare achievement that shows its authenticity and careful preservation.
The Model 30, introduced in 1907, became one of Packard’s signature cars, built on a strong chassis designed for large custom bodies, meeting the needs of wealthy buyers who wanted roomy touring cars for family, guests, and luggage. Packard appealed to buyers looking for understated refinement and elegance.
This car is powered by Packard’s strong 7.1-liter T-head inline four-cylinder engine, one of the company’s most respected designs utilizing a three-speed manual transaxle and an expanding-band clutch for smooth gear changes. Semi-elliptic leaf springs at the front and rear gave a comfortable ride, even on rough roads, and the braking system used both expanding-shoe and contracting-band rear brakes for reliable stopping. Inside, the car seats 7 with fold down jump seats in the rear which also features a floor mounted heater for passenger comfort.
Phil Hill, America’s first Formula One World Champion, bought the car after retiring from racing in 1961, Hill focused on preserving early American cars and worked with well-known craftsman Bob Mosier in his Santa Monica garage, spending almost three years carefully restoring the Packard. Hill wanted to keep every part of the car’s history and return it to the condition Packard originally intended. The restoration showed Hill’s perfectionism, a trait that had already made him a top racing driver.
Hill showed the Packard at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in 1976 where it won Best in Class. Even more impressive, Hill brought the same restored car back in 1999, over twenty years later, and it won Best in Class again without needing another restoration.
The Packard’s story continued with the next generation. In 2013, Phil Hill’s son, Derek Hill, brought the car back to Pebble Beach to honor his father. Derek completed the Tour d’Elegance with Wayne Carini as his passenger and once again, the Packard won Best in Class, finishing one of the most impressive concours records ever for a Brass Era car.
Specifications
Engine: 431 cubic inch (7.1 Litre), 4 cylinder T-Head Engine; 3 speed manual transmission in Transaxle; expanding band clutch
Performance: 30 Horsepower
Top Speed: 55-60mph
Chassis: Rear wheel mechanical brakes; Semi-eliptical springs front and rear suspension
Weight: 4500-5000 lbs