This 1934 Packard Boattail is the Perfect Ride for your Gatsby Dreams

An automotive icon from a bygone era

For those who dream of living the Great Gatsby lifestyle without the tragic ending, this Bring a Trailer listing might be just what you need. This is a 1934 Packard Super Eight Boattail Speedster conversion, and visually, it is the pinnacle of 1930s opulence. However, much like how I wasn’t always as cool as I am today, this Packard wasn’t a boattail from the factory.

This particular example was delivered new with a five-passenger Club Sedan body and reportedly re-bodied in the 1940s in a pickup-style configuration. After being stored for an unspecified number of years, its current owner bought it in 2003 and commissioned a three-year refurbishment during which the block was bored, honed, and resurfaced, the crankshaft was polished, the connecting rods were reconditioned with replacement babbitt bearings, and the pistons were replaced. Following the mechanical work, the owner also commissioned the boattail bodywork it wears today, inspired by the Packard boattail speedsters of 1932 and 1934.

A body to match this Packard’s pedigree

The body was crafted by Jim Hery of Chalfont Motor Car Company in Belfast, Tennessee, with seasoned ash wood framework wrapped in hand-formed metal panels. Those panels were finished in a very fitting deep green color with pale green accents following the car’s sweeping bodyline. Inside is a contrasting tan tufted leather interior that was trimmed between 2023 and 2024 with a large three-spoke steering whel, dual gloveboxes, and a locking golf club door on the left quarter panel.

Additional pieces that round out this gorgeous 1930s icon include mahogany running boards, stout chrome bumpers, a swept-back V-shaped windshield with wind wings, body-color thermostatically controlled grille shutters, a Goddess of Speed radiator mascot, rear wheel spats, and a tan convertible top that can be stowed under a metal tonneau panel.

Slight mechanical improvements were needed

Under the hood is a 385ci L-head inline-eight mated to a three-speed manual transmission. Stopping power is provided by vacuum-assisted four-wheel drum brakes that sit behind the matching green-painted 17” wire wheels. The suspension uses leaf-sprung solid axles with double-acting hydraulic lever-arm shock absorbers that can be adjusted via a knob under dash, allowing you to ride low and slow to your next speakeasy engagement. The five-digit odometer shows 34,000 miles, of which only 25 were added under current ownership. The fuel gauge and clock reportedly do not work.

Final thoughts

Now yes, this isn’t a factory Packard boattail, but given how unobtainium those are today, this faithful reproduction is the closest most of us will get to driving such an icon. The auction ends in 9 days with a current bid of $7,746. Upon purchase, the new owner will receive photos from its refurbishment, a pair of spare tire covers, and a clean Maryland title.

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