KESS KE43062010 Packard Bayliff 1170 roadster 1949 %

Kess — KE43062010 | Packard Bayliff 1170 Roadster (1949)

A bespoke neoclassical specialty creation, this open two-seater roadster pays tribute to late-1940s luxury automotive design through the custom craftsmanship of C. Budd Bayliff (Bayliff Custom Automotive). Marrying traditional Packard styling cues—most notably the vertical chrome tombstone grille, sculpted hood lines, and classic winged mascot—with a sporting cut-down roadster silhouette, it blends ponton-era curves with coachbuilt exclusivity, featuring cut-down windscreen glass, smooth slab sides, and a flowing rear deck reminiscent of bespoke custom convertibles.

Power is supplied by a high-torque American powerplant engineered for smooth cruising, silent idle, and effortless low-end propulsion. Channeled through a dependable drivetrain with compliant suspension and period-style wire wheels, the 1170 Roadster was tailored for open-air boulevard grand touring rather than outright competition. Hand-crafted in extremely limited quantities for discerning collectors of retro-coachbuilt American machinery, it remains a rare and charismatic collector piece.