Errol’s 1941 Peach Packard Convertible “Clipper Darrin”!
Like Flynn Himself, One-of-a-Kind. Personally designed and custom-made for him by the preminent Dutch Darrin, “Darrin of Paris” (located in LA). No identical prior or subsequent car was ever made.
It was purchased in or about 1948 by Tom Sumner, with it’s oringinal peach exterior and medium green interior. To his deep regret, however, Sumner sold it in 1951. Years later, he tried to find and repurchase it, but without success.
It apparently declined in quality, due to inadequate care and maintenance, was de-peached with (a poorly regarded) dark green metallic paint. Ultimatelty was either demolished, shipped to England, taken to Mexico, or otherwise vanished. It’s uncertain if it still exists, but it looked nearly exactly as the peach one in the photos below, which was built by Sumner (in the 90’s, I believe.)
Here’s a photo of it after it was repainted:
And here’s Tom Sumner briefly speaking about his history with the car:
And a very informative discussion among Packard enthusiasts:
Previous discussions on the EFB:
— Tim
I’ve been to that museum, though I don’t remember seeing the “Flynn Car”. (Nor did I know Errol had a car like this.) But that’s a great piece of trivia, Tim, thank you.
Thanks, zacal. This could be her. Uou’ve got such awesome visual skills. What do you think?
[img]http://31.media.tumblr.com/80c3872ec2d57f0907282b4b1ed0fdf9/tumblr_mnya62ReQ21snx77eo4_400.gif[/img]
Can you imagine picking this peach up for $1500, while it was still in great shape!?
Reports are that there are photos of this “Errol Flynn Clipper Darrin” (from when Flynn owned it) in back issues of The Packard Cormorant and Automobile Quarterly. One of these is said to include Errol’s chauffer. Still another photo was said to include Lili Damita with it, but research reveals that Lili may have owned an earlier Darrin Packard, not a Clipper. So, the Lili report may be erroneous.
[img]http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA3M1gxMDYx/$(KGrHqFHJBME+OfkbgI9BQDcL+RW(Q~~60_35.JPG[/img]
[img]http://www.spiderwebart.com/images/aq_lg.jpg[/img]
Nice bodywork!
I concur, Don Jan. Excellent, indeed, though our view of the rear bumper is incomplete.
great story and thanks for keeping this place alive. I have been dormant but that is a long story.
Thanks, twinarchers. Always great to hear from you. Hope all’s well.
Tim
Check out this great photo from Jack Marino:
www.warriorfilmmakers.com…
What a car I love it. What ever happened to decadence What I would not give o go back when days where most simple. Thank you. genene
peach is it’s colour the green leaves me flat. Genene
I agree with you, tassie devil. Errol would like to say hello and thanks to you, his fellow Tassie, Genene.
[img]http://31.media.tumblr.com/cee2c2f960c61bf8251045110d2e5a1d/tumblr_mnzv9491AN1snx77eo1_500.gif[/img]
Here is something else!
articles.orlandosentinel.com…
Errol Flynn’s Packard A Bargain At $330,000
December 27, 1990|By Norv Roggen, Cox News Service
In 1939, Gilbert Hoard fell in love with the Packard convertible, a classy sports car that retailed for $4,570. But he waited until 1990 before he bought one.
When he did, he paid $330,000 for a two-tone red 1939 Packard once owned by Errol Flynn.
Although the car has 68,000 miles on its speedometer and has spent the past 40 years aging in a garage and museum, Hoard calls it a bargain.
”I consider that car an investment,” Hoard, a Jupiter, Fla., resident, said after driving it home from Houston, where he found it at a car auction. ”It doesn’t pay dividends, but it will appreciate in value. In another 20 years, it will be worth $1 million.”
The car first was owned by the famous matinee heartthrob, who in the 1950s docked his boat next to Hoard’s 73-foot yacht when both men were living in Havana.
An antique-car buff, Hoard had been searching for the car when he spotted one listed in an ad for a Houston car auction. With cash from the sale of a hotel, he headed for Texas. A look at the car, which had been on display at the David Taylor Classic Car Museum in Galveston, Texas, and Hoard joined the bidding.
”When the bidding got to $300,000, I started to shake,” said the 64-year-old native of Rochester, N.Y.
But when the last of several other bidders dropped out at $325,000, Hoard got the car.
David Taylor, a Houston Cadillac dealer who founded the museum, said he hadn’t intended to sell the car, which he had insured for $500,000.
”I took it there just to help promote the auction,” he said. ”But everyone got caught up in the bidding, and I agreed to sell it. The gentleman from Florida got a beautiful car. It’s the only one of its kind in the world.”
Only two of the cars were built with eight-cylinder engines, Taylor said. One was owned by Flynn, the other by cowboy movie star Tom Mix. Mix’s car was being used in filming The Carpetbaggers when it was demolished in a wreck. Flynn’s car was bought by a man in Bridgeport, Conn., who rarely drove it. Taylor acquired it from his estate.
Hoard plans to display his Packard in antique-car shows.