Meet “Ruby”. She is the latest addition to Dot & Tad’s workshop in Georgia, and was shipped from the UK to the USA by Autoshippers on our Roll On / Roll Off service. She is a fabulously restored 1937 Packard 115C Convertible that was restored in the 1970’s after being discovered in a lock-up in the UK. She was fitted with Right-Hand Drive and shipped to the UK from new.
At Autoshippers we were more than happy to help to send Ruby back home to the USA, let’s show you how we did it.
The Packard Motor Car Company
The Packard Motor Car Company was founded in 1899 in Warren, Ohio by brothers James Ward Packard, an engineer, and William Doud Packard, a businessman. James Packard had purchased a Winton automobile in 1898 but was dissatisfied with its mechanical reliability. After writing a letter to Winton with suggestions for improvement and getting no response, the Packard brothers decided to start their own luxury automobile company.
Packard quickly gained a reputation for innovation and technological advancement. In its early years, the company pioneered a variety of features that would become standard in cars, including the modern steering wheel and the first production 12-cylinder engine in 1916. Packards were also among the first cars with four-wheel brakes and fully synchronized transmissions. The emphasis on engineering and luxury features established Packard as one of America’s premier automobile brands in the early 20th century.
The company prospered throughout the 1920s, surviving where other luxury marques like Pierce-Arrow and Peerless faded away. Packard’s peak production was reached in 1929 when over 36,000 cars were built. The Great Depression (1929 – 1939) hit Packard hard but the company remained in business by scaling back production and focusing on its high-end models, including the elegant Packard Twelve. Packard was one of the few independent U.S. automakers to make it through the Depression.
Packard thrived again in the postwar years but struggled to adapt as buyers turned towards more affordable cars. An attempt to compete with Cadillac with a lower-priced model in the 1950s damaged Packard’s exclusive image. After merging with the struggling Studebaker company in 1954, Packard’s financial problems mounted. The company ceased auto production in Detroit in 1956. Though the Packard name continued to appear on Studebaker-built cars through 1958, the original Packard company was no more. But its legacy of quality engineering and styling influenced generations of luxury automobiles built by other manufacturers around the world.
1937 Packard 115C Convertible
The Packard 115C convertible was one of the more distinctive and desirable variations of this junior Packard line when it debuted in 1937. The convertible featured a power-operated top that disappeared beneath a covered tonneau, allowing open-air motoring. It rode on the same 127-inch wheelbase chassis as the regular 115C models and was powered by the same 288 cubic-inch straight-eight engine producing 120 horsepower.
Like all 115Cs, the convertible exemplified Packard’s signature styling cues like the tall chrome grille and skirted rear fenders. The convertible was further distinguished by its top-down profile which accentuated the flowing fenders and integrated trunk design. Wood-framed doors and windows as well as wide whitewall tires projected an elegant, sporty image. Inside, the convertible had a broad bench seat front and rear finished in quality fabrics and leather upholstery befitting a Packard.
Notable mechanical features were also shared with the standard 115C, including four-wheel hydraulic brakes, independent front suspension, and optional overdrive. On the road, the convertible delivered a refined driving experience with its smooth straight-eight powerplant and balanced handling. Dropping the top allowed occupants to enjoy open motoring with the wind in their hair but retain refuge beneath the covered rear seats.
Only a fraction of the 5,200 total 115C production for 1937 were convertibles, making them far less common than the standard coupes and sedans. The elegant styling and refined manners of the Packard 115C convertible exemplified the prestige of the Packard brand in the late 1930s. For those seeking exclusivity and sophisticated open-air touring, the Packard 115C convertible was a standout.
Shipping a 1937 Packard 115C Convertible to the USA
When we were initially contacted regarding shipping costs, we provided Tad with quotations on both our Ro/Ro and dedicated FCL shipping services. Classic and valuable cars are often booked on our dedicated FCL shipping services as this can give added protection to the vehicle in transit. But on this occasion Tad opted for our Ro/Ro service.
Ro/Ro shipping services utilise specially designed vessels, where vehicles can be driven on and off using integrated ramps. This service is typically faster than standard container shipping, and can also be more cost effective. It is very safe, and vehicles are stowed below decks securely to ensure they do not move around during transit.
As well as shipping across the Atlantic Ocean we also arranged to collect Ruby using our nationwide specialist vehicle collection service. This meant that our marine insurance policy covered the car from the point that it left the previous owner’s control right up to delivery into our customer’s care in the USA. We took her from her old home in London and delivered her safely to the port of Southampton to be loaded onto the next sailing to Charleston.
As we arranged the collection, a condition report was undertaken both at the time of collection and at the quayside, just before loading. This showed the condition of Ruby before she was loaded onto the vessel, giving Tad peace of mind in regards to the insurance coverage.
Once the vessel had docked in the UK port and has discharged any imported vehicles, all of the cars, bikes and other vehicles that were due for export are driven on via the loading ramp and secured safely for onward shipping to the USA.
Autoshippers – The Car Vehicle Shipping Experts
Dot & Tad were “well pleased” with the service they received from Autoshippers and the staff at the destination port in the USA which they described as “seamless”. They added that they are “proud to be the fourth owners of this 1937 Packard 115C…. and after the long journey from Southampton (we are) looking forward to many miles and smiles in the future!”
At Autoshippers we have Ro/Ro, shared container or dedicated container services all available to destinations worldwide, and with specialist marine insurance cover for your peace of mind, we can make sure that you use the safest, most secure, cost effective and most suitable shipping type for your needs.
Just complete the , or contact us via the website or via phone on 0117 9828 123 or 0800 389 0784, giving us all details of your vehicles and chosen destination. If you would like to utilise our national collection service then also make sure you give us the UK collection address, as well as contact details in the UK if you are based overseas.
