1930 Packard Deluxe Eight (Model 745) Convertible Victoria
Packard enjoyed international prestige rivaling Rolls-Royce during the Classic period, with wealthy owners worldwide often commissioning custom coachwork from local shops. The Deluxe Eight’s 145.5-inch wheelbase provided an exceptional platform for coachbuilders to create strikingly beautiful designs.
Parisian coachbuilder Maurice Proux operated from 1928 to 1932, running a small shop that achieved success for its precision-crafted, conservative work. Proux began with factory closed bodies and essentially reworked every panel. His bodies featured crisp styling with prominent straight-through beltline moldings inspired by Hibbard & Darrin, while avoiding extraneous decoration.
Custom details included doors with curved “carriage sills” that dropped in the center for easier entry, and geared window lifts fitting grooves in window frames for seamless operation. New front and rear fenders bore pronounced beading edges, complemented by reshaped cowls and hoodlines.
Power came from a 385 cubic inch inline eight-cylinder engine producing 106 horsepower at 3,200 RPM, paired with a four-speed manual transmission. Total 745 production reached approximately 1,789 units, with prices ranging from $4,585 to $5,355.
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