1930 Packard 734 Speedster Boattail Runabout
- Engine
- 385 ci L-head straight-eight, dual-throat updraft carburetor, 145 bhp at 3,400 rpm
Assembled from authentic Packard 734 Speedster components sourced largely from the Bill Harrah collection — including a matching-number chassis, engine, and coachwork — this boattail Runabout represents one of the rarest and most performance-focused American automobiles of the prewar era. Only around 118 examples of the Model 734 Speedster were produced beginning in 1930. The car underwent a meticulous 54-month restoration in the early 1990s drawing on input from 734 owners and surviving period documentation, and retains an exceptional array of period accessories including a dashboard-mounted North East tachometer said to be unique among surviving examples.
Ownership
- 2023-08-18Auction saleSold US$375,000
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownBill Harrahpartial documentation
Harrah acquired an unspecified number of 734 Speedsters during the 1960s, restored three, and the remaining unrestored parts were later sold after the restoration work concluded.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownHarrah's collection dispersal buyerpartial documentation
Genuine 734 components — including chassis, engine, and coachwork — were acquired primarily from the surplus Harrah's parts stock and assembled into the present vehicle.
- Date unknownAcquisition unknownCurrent vendorpartial documentation
Commissioned or oversaw a 54-month restoration completed in the early 1990s, involving consultation with fellow 734 owners and surviving period documentation, carried out by Packard-experienced specialists.
Competition
No competition history extracted from the catalogue.
Maintenance & restoration
- —RestorationHarrah's
Bill Harrah's workshop carried out detailed restorations on three Packard 734 Speedsters in the 1960s; surplus parts from the remaining unrestored cars were later dispersed and sourced for this vehicle.
This work pertains to the donor vehicles rather than the present car directly, but establishes the provenance of its major components.
- —Restoration
A comprehensive 54-month ground-up restoration was completed in the early 1990s, drawing on input from surviving 734 Speedster owners and period documentation, and executed by Packard-experienced specialists. Period accessories, correct specifications, and show-quality paintwork were incorporated throughout.
Restoration scope included careful research to define period-correct details; the engine and chassis were brought to as-new condition consistent with factory 1930 specifications.
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