1934 Packard Twelve Convertible Victoria By Dietrich

by

Model number: 30397

Review of the model:

When some one thinks of Packard, they often remember the wonderful cars of the mid fifties as the Cavalier and Caribbean’s. But 30 years earlier the big 12 cylinders high-end, custom build body design was the top of the pop. In 1934 the Packard Twelve Convertible Victoria with body work made by Dietrich, was a car for only the very rich and famous. As those cars cost as much as a very fine house! Today only about  under 10 are known to be on the road, or more precisely, in a collection and can be displayed in the great car shows. Some say they are among of the most beautiful designed sculptures on 4 wheels. And I most agree, therefore it’s a joy to see that Anson and now also, Auto World make the car in 1:18 scale die cast for the serious collector.

I was lucky to fine the black Anson model second hand, as I find this color with the red pinstripes very handsome. I don’t know if the pinstripes are decals or real paint, but they are so perfect applied that a great applause goes to Anson from here. Anson models have high quality paint and prep work and it show in the piano black finish this model have. Remember black is one of the hardest colors to paint, as every little flaw will stand out and ruin the overall appearance. Chrome goes well to the black body of this Packard, just look at the big white wall tires and spoke wheels with the “Packard Twelve” center caps. The owner of the car, get two extra spare wheels mounted in black casings on the body, as back then, not all roads where like today, and the driver most be prepared.

Up front of the car we see four big bulled shaped chrome headlights and a fine feature are the angle shaped lenses of the two main lamps, just as the real car. The V-shaped radiator grill is towering high and on top, is the Packard hood ornament standing proud, to make a statement. Under the butterfly hood is the big twelve cylinder motor that giver the car a smooth drive - some says, like floating on a sky. Anson had not left out any thing here. But they could have made some wires on the motor just to make it perfect.

If we open the doors to the cabin the red leather interior stands out, and suits the black car well. The instrument panel and dashboard is detailed, but some things could be more realistic made such as the chrome pedals etc. The carpet is missing too. This is just a little thing in my book, as the car looks best with the soft top on. By the way, you can detach the soft top but the car looks best with it on. The soft top itself is made in good matte plastic and at first glance, one can be fooled this is real canvas! Good job Anson.

Rear on the car we see a big rack for extra baggage and suit cases . And the Packard have also a real trunk where the deck lid can be opened. The rear lights are realistic made with red and blue plastic lenses. A big Packard emblem is mounted in the center.

This model is well made and has many fine details, some small things could have been added, but we have to judge it fair compared to the price. If we do so, we have a real fine model here from Anson.
 

I will give this model 4 out of 6 stars  ******

Below here are pictures of the model, historical description, old brochures, technical data and a little movie clip for the real car. So please enjoy!

Front page brochure design

 At the show room

History:

Packard got its start in Warren, Ohio, in 1899, when James Ward Packard figured he could build a better car than the Winton he had purchased. His first was a small one-cylinder model with automatic spark advance. James B. Joy took over the concern in 1901 and moved it to Detroit in 1903, the year of the first four-cylinder Packard.

Packard’s extensive catalog of standard and custom bodies included some of the most spectacular designs of the era, courtesy of LeBaron and Dietrich. Twelve-cylinder models were offered in three wheelbases, with 24 body styles to choose from. Among those, the Dietrich-designed convertible Victoria stands proudly as one of the finest of the era. Offered on the 147-inch 1107 chassis, body style 747, otherwise known as the five-passenger convertible Victoria, is sublimely proportioned, with its elegant lines unspoiled with the roof up or down. It was a costly model when new, and today fewer than ten examples are known to exist, all of which are prized by collectors and coveted by enthusiasts.

Dietrich, Inc. did substantial styling work for standard bodies for Packard, Franklin, and Erskine, a corporate make of Studebaker. Further, Dietrich, Inc. built custom bodies to single orders, and proposed semi-customs (similarly built as full customs, but in small lots of usually 5–10 units) for the catalogues of Lincoln (then headed by Edsel Ford) or Packard. Raymond Dietrich further was a design consultant with Packard.

By September 1930, Dietrich was out of his company. Dietrich, Inc. was closed in 1936; Raymond Dietrich became in 1932 the first head of design of Chrysler (until 1938).

Afterwards, he freelanced as Raymond H. Dietrich and finally Ray Dietrich Inc. One of his primary clients was the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company, (renamed Checker Motors Corporation in 1958) in Kalamazoo, MI. while at Checker he partnered with Auburn engineer Herb Snow and developed the ill-fated front wheel drive, transverse engine Model "D" Checker prototype. Dietrich was also instrumental in designing the Checker Model A2 introduced in the fall of 1947. Dietrich's office at Checker remained untouched years after his death.

Dietrich retired to Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1960 at the age of 66. At the time, Kalamazoo was the home of Gibson Guitars and in 1962, Gibson boss Ted McCarty, convinced Dietrich to come out of retirement to design a new solid-body electric guitar that would not be limited by the traditional ways of designing and engineering an electric guitar - the result was the classic, 'reverse' Gibson Firebird, released in 1963, one of the most iconic and recognizable electric guitar designs ever.

The Twelve was Packard’s flagship—the car positioned to take on the best from Cadillac and Lincoln throughout the depths of the Great Depression. It was named for its engine, which was ideal to power Packard’s top model. It was initially called the Twin Six in honor of the flagship Packard from a decade earlier, but was re-badged the Twelve to confer the image of power and prestige. Dietrich’s design elements take that to the next level—particularly the 1934 model, whose V-shaped grille and long cowl that flows all the way back to the windscreen offer unsurpassed elegance for four very lucky passengers

Technical specification:

Engine

Configuration                   67º V12

Location      Front, longitudinally mounted

Construction                    cast-iron block and head

Displacement                   7,299 cc / 445.4 cu in

Bore / Stroke                     87.3 mm (3.4 in) / 101.6 mm (4 in)

Compression                    6.0:1

Valvetrain    2 valves / cylinder, OHV

Fuel feed     Stromberg Carburettor

Aspiration    Naturally Aspirated

Power          160 bhp / 119 kW @ 3,200 rpm

Torque         437 Nm / 322 ft lbs @ 1,400 rpm

BHP/Liter     22 bhp / liter

Drivetrain

Body             steel panels over wood frame

Chassis       steel ladder frame with X-brace

Front suspension            solid axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs, adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers

Rear suspension             live axle, semi-elliptic leaf spring, adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers

Steering       worm-and-roller

Brakes         drums, all-round

Gearbox       3 speed Manual

Clutch          Twin plate

Drive            Rear wheel drive

Dimensions

Wheelbase / Track (fr/r)  3,731 mm (146.9 in) / 1,532 mm (60.3 in) / 1,492 mm (58.7 in)

Wheels        7.5 x 18

Old brochures of the car

Only Packard Eight!

Video of the real car from You Tube

1934 Packard "12" Convertible Victoria at Pebble beach

If you have any question or comment your are free to contact me at: aeronautic@stofanet.dk

Dealers are welcome to get their models reviewed too.

Aeronautic Feb. 2022

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