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January 1st, 2007

The Most Beautiful Car of 2006

Since Classical Drive is only ten months old it’s hardly appropriate to do one of those “that was the year that… ” features to celebrate the arrival of a new year. Not that I attended many events: the Scottsdale auctions, Pebble Beach concours, and Vancouver’s Gastown concours made up my budget-limited repertoire. But with today being the first of 2007, I thought it might be fun to scan the rear view mirror in search of the most beautiful car I’d photographed in 2006. Not an easy call, for even with just three events under my belt I was privileged to see a staggering number of gorgeous automobiles. Still, I’d have to say this 1934 Packard Twelve Runabout Speedster equals anything for sheer beauty and elegance. The coachwork is by LeBaron, the engine a powerful V-12. A two-seater with a boattail back, it was not very practical as transportation but with lines like that, who cares? Enormously expensive when new, it is one of just four built; all survive in private collections. This example was photographed on stage at RM’s Arizona Biltmore auction. Which is where I’ll be in a little over two weeks, along with the week-long Barrett-Jackson show. I’m not certain where I’m more excited over the cars or the opportunity to soak up some warm air and sunshine, but with GM loaning me a Pontiac GT Convertible you can be sure I’ll get plenty of the latter. And you, dear viewers, will get a cornucopia of photo images right here on Classical Drive.