From its founding, Packard counted movie stars, playboys, and socialites among its prestigious customers.

Yet Packard's catalogued designs—that is to say, those not made to order by coachbuilders—were, in contrast to the dazzling personalities that often bought them, typically quite conservative.

Howard “Dutch” Darrin changed that in his typically flamboyant fashion.

After producing a number of custom Packards for his Hollywood clientele featuring rakish lines and cut-down doors with the signature “Darrin dip,” Darrin tried convincing Packard’s top brass to add his designs to the company’s official model lineup—only to be met with indifference.

Taking matters into his own hands, he had one of his cars parked outside the Packard Proving Grounds at the time of an annual dealer’s meeting, where attendees could not help but see it.

Pressured by dealers, Packard included the Darrin in its 1940 catalogue as a Sport Sedan, Convertible Sedan, and Convertible Victoria.

Packard sought to s...