1935 Packard V12 Roadster Excerpts from Actual Appraisal by Steve Cram Speedometer reading: 65,721 miles. Restoration: 3,000 miles ago. Original exterior color: Unknown. Current exterior colors: Light green main body, dark green fenders and lower body. Current interior: Sea-foam green leather. Equipment: Radio (with correct switch in glove box), heater/defroster, dual side mounts (but without metal covers), dual side mount mirrors, power clutch, aftermarket signal lights (easy to remove for shows), rumble seat, small golf club door on side. Condition: Using the traditional rating scale for collector and/or vintage automobiles of 1 to 5 (1, mint/show/perfect/excellent; 2, very good; 3, good; 4, fair; 5, poor/rough), this well-restored car rates a #1. Ultra-fine mechanics with usual deterioration that occurs from an older restoration. Very rare with only three remaining examples known. Exterior: Good physical specimen taken down to bare bones prior to fine two-tone paint job which is still show quality. Oddly, the car has side mounts but no metal covers. Dual mirrors on the side mounts add fine touch. Chrome has been redone and is #1. Glass and lenses carefully restored and #1. Running boards excellent. Tires are high #2 (all six), wires are in fine order. Interior: Also very fine everywhere: dash, leather to seats and panels, rugs, all instruments including working radio. Top: Very well restored with all bows and struts redone, as well as latches and receivers. Stacks and erects perfectly. Rumble seat: Nicely redone with seats, rugs and all hinges well done. Some areas appear to have been rough before restoration. Engine compartment: Superbly done for show: immaculate and detailed. Manifold's porcelain is coming off and could be redone. Body wiring is #1, with added turn signals removable if desired. Undercarriage: Detailed in every regard for show. Rear end very quiet, but large patch of grease on floor indicates a seal might need to be replaced. Suspension and steering components are in fine order. Power clutch worked well. Handling was extremely fine for a 1935 car. Mechanics: Totally overhauled and ultra fine. Car started and ran perfectly through all tests. History: In the depths of the worst U.S. depression ever, Packard (like all independents) struggled to survive. The luxury line-up for 1935 continued with basically three flavors: Eight, super eight and Twelve. Historians believe that about 47 of the 1935 V12 convertible coupes were made and this is apparently one of three left. Very rare. Collectors and historians feel that there was something "not quite right" with the newly styled and engineered senior Packards for 1935 and 1936. Yes, the cars are elegant, but compared to the magnificent handling 1933-34s and the wonderful performing 1937-39s, the 1935-36s are lacking. When kept up (as this one has been), they are wonderful touring cars, but the others are better. Therefore, '32-34s go for top prices; the '37-39s are second, with the '35-36s last. Value: Range (depending on value guide): up to $150,000 in #1 perfect shape. Asking price for this car: $129,000. Appraiser's estimate for this car: $121,000-$122,000. Status: A fine top-of-the-line classic for 1935, but company's earlier and later cars offer better performance and handling.