In early 1929, the Packard executives in Detroit circulated a memo to their distributors describing a new, high-speed sporting model to be built for the upcoming Seventh-Series lineup in extremely limited numbers, and available by special order only. The brainchild of Col. Jesse G. Vincent, Packard’s vice president of engineering, the 734 Speedster was in every way a factory hot rod, built on Packard’s short 134.5” wheelbase chassis, and equipped with 19” wheels, high-speed rear end (3.31:1), finned brake drums, and a tuned Deluxe Eight 385 cid straight eight with special manifolds. Featuring an exotic twinthroat Detroit Lubricator carburetor, hemispherical combustion chambers, a cutout-equipped exhaust system, and a high-compression cylinder head, the open Speedsters produced a stout 145 hp. After the Duesenberg Model J, it was the most powerful eight-cylinder American car available to the public in 1930.

The 734 Speedsters could reach 60 mph in second gear when new and had a top speed in excess of 110 mph – figures that were virtually unheard of for any production car in the period, let alone a well-appointed luxury car. When new, they commanded more than $5,000 – at a time when a new Ford roadster cost just $460.

Exclusive from the outset, and never advertised, the 734 Speedster was offered in five distinct body styles: boattail runabout, phaeton, two-door victoria, sedan, and the 2/4-place runabout roadster which followed soon after the initial announcement. Custom tailored to the dimensions of the 734 chassis, the bodies were built in Packard’s in-house custom coachworks, where they were constructed narrower and lower than standard bodies. In addition, the cowl was moved rearward by 6” to create more sleek and striking proportions. While most body styles were more conservative, the boattail runabout in particular, with its minimal top and staggered seating arrangement, was overtly sporting and proved to be the most popular variant. In all, just 113 examples of the 734 are estimated to have been built, just 39 of which were outfitted with the runabout boattail body, including the Packard offered here.

Nelson W. Brinckerhoff was orphaned at just two years of age, but adopted by his uncle, who was established in the high-society circles of the affluent enclave of Englewood, New Jersey. Living on a substantial inheritance, Mr. Brinckerhoff purchased this 734 Speedster Runabout new when he was 21 years old and had it shipped to his home in Switzerland. One can easily imagine what an exotic sight the sleek Speedster was on the idyllic avenues and roads near his Alpine residence.

Around 1932, Mr. Brinckerhoff sold his 734, which may have coincided with his purchase of the Murphy-bodied Duesenberg Model J Dual-Cowl Phaeton, J-175. According to the Speedster Eight Register, Nat Weiss purchased the 734, likely directly from Mr. Brinckerhoff and possibly while the car was still in Europe. Mr. Weiss had the 734 shipped back to the US and maintained ownership for over 15 years. Beginning in about 1946, Mr. Weiss frequented a Shell service station in Hillsdale, New Jersey, owned by George Jepson, who was immediately smitten with the sleek Packard and attempted to buy the car on the spot from Mr. Weiss. With Mr. Jepson’s offers rebuffed for years, the two men eventually fell out of touch. When Mr. Jepson was able to re-establish contact in 1951, Mr. Weiss informed him that he had sold the Speedster just two weeks prior. Fortunately, Mr. Jepson was able to make a deal with that buyer, Kermit Chandigian, after just two months of ownership.

With his prize finally in hand, Mr. Jepson commenced a substantial restoration of the Packard, and debuted it at the very first CCCA Grand Classic, where the car earned Senior award badge no. 5. Mr. Jepson later became president of the CCCA, and he and his wife enjoyed numerous CCCA CARavans in the 734, contributing to the 50,000 miles they drove during their 22-year stewardship.

Donald R. Peterson of Atlanta, Georgia became the 734’s next steward in 1973, having first seen the car in 1958, and vowing to own it someday. Mr. Peterson and his family maintained and drove their cherished Packard for the next 50 years, participating in CARavans, Glidden Tours, and even the Colorado Grand in 2004. However, by far the most epic excursion undertaken in the Packard was the Petersons’ 29-day, 9,638-mile odyssey, on a circuitous tour of the US in 1995, during which they logged mileage in all of the 48 contiguous states in the US, naming their adventure “One Lap of America.”

The Peterson family’s tenure with the 734 concluded in 2024, when it was acquired by Stan Lucas, fulfilling a goal he had held for many years to own a genuine Speedster Runabout. Shortly before the change in ownership, the Speedster underwent a light restoration, renewing key items, including exhaust, electrical, and suspension components. Details of the work are contained in a 97-page historical dossier, included with the sale.

Over the decades, the beauty, performance, and radical proportions of the few surviving Packard 734s have earned them a mythical status among collectors of American classics. Revered in knowledgeable circles as one of the very best Speedster Runabouts, and with a distinguished roster of owners, there is no question that this A-list Packard represents an opportunity to be seized.