Bohman and Schwartz creates one of a kind masterpiece in this 1940 Packard Victoria, originally owned by Maybelline founder, Tom Lyle Williams

Excerpt from Maybelline founder, Tom Lyle Williams Niece, Jane Allen's diary

 June, 1940

We drove to Pasadena to see a sketch of Tom Lyle's new car.  The artist for Packard had sketched it on a blackboard, actual size, to give tom Lyle an idea of dimensions.  Believe it will be some sporty job. The car will be a long convertible, four or five passenger, cream with red leather upholstering.  From the sketch it looks as if this will be the best looking and most unusual car Tom Lyle has had.  We spent the afternoon waiting for Tom Lyle to get all details settled, and stopped at a Drive-in for a sandwich

When Tom Lyle Williams requested an extra 18 inches added to the hood of his Packard, Bohman Schwartz accommodated him by purchasing a 20 foot Limousine, tearing it down to the chassis and building a custom made body on it. It's truly a remarkable piece of art.

So, when it came time to give my cousin Jeff Welles a great Birthday gift, I arranged for him and his brother Floyd Shaver-Welles, to visit the Snyder's, and take a ride in their uncle, Tom Lyle Williams car. (Jeff and Floyd are Tom Lyle Williams partner, Emery Shaver's, nephews.)  Here I am ready to cruise, with Jeff and Floyd's wives, Maryann Welles and Patty Shaver-Welles.

Our cousin, Ann (Williams-Corbett) Carneros, joined the Birthday party (Ann is Tom Lyle Williams, brother Noel James Williams, granddaughter,) 

Right to left, Ann (Williams-Corbett) Carneros, Sharrie Williams, Floyd Shaver-Welles and Jeff Welles. 

As it turned out we celebrated two special Birthdays, Jeff Welles and Bill Snyder...  Seated left to right bottom row, Jeff Welles, Steve Snyder, Maryann Welles, Sharrie Williams, Bill Snyder, Jo Snyder. Top row, Floyd Shaver-Welles, Patty Shaver-Welles, Ann (Williams-Corbett) Carneros.

Enjoy two versions of a slideshow video with the Williams, the Shaver-Welles and Snyder's.

Steve Snyder with his father, Bill Snyder at the Vault Classic Car Showroom, 714-401-1047.

Steve Snyder is owner of Vault Classic Cars and now has a beautiful Showroom in Fullerton, California, where you can visit and purchase some of the most incredible vintage cars in the world.

More about Steve Snyder, Vault Classic Cars and Tom Lyle Williams 1940 Packard Victoria click on links.

Maybelline's spectacular one of a kind classic car.

Mar 26, 2012

Maybelline's spectacular one of a kind classic car. Meeting with Packard historian, and owner of VAULT CARS, Steve Snyder, was a real eye opener!!! Steve brought out a thick folder, documenting the history of my great uncle ...

THE MAYBELLINE STORY : OLD HOLLYWOOD, comes ...

Mar 29, 2012

Chuck Williams aka BB1, of Reeeeel Convertibles, Steve Snyder of Vault Classic Cars, Sharrie Williams, author of the Maybelline Story, and her sister, Donna Williams, spend an afternoon, viewing and discussing the history ...

THE MAYBELLINE STORY : 1940 PACKARD VICTORIA ...

Jun 14, 2012

Stay tuned for an article on the car written by Steve Snyder, of VAULT CARS, for the Antique Automobile Club of America . These Classic Roman Horses represented the power of Rome. I was amazed to see how similar they ...

THE MAYBELLINE STORY : View video of Maybelline ...

Mar 24, 2012

In 1971, the 1940 Packard Victoria was published in Old Cars Weekly in Kahoka Missouri. Bill Snyder ... Labels: 1971 Cadillac Coupe deVille, maybellinebookblog, Vault Cars. classic cars, video of 1940 Packard Victoria ...

t.l.williams 1917 paige detroit and 1934 packard dietrich.

Jun 18, 2012

Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest. Labels: 1934 Vee Windshield Dietrich Packard, antique automobile club of america, Paige Detroit., Steve Snyder, Tom Lyle Williams, Vault Cars. classic cars ...

1917 Paige Detroit,"the most beautiful car in America."

Mar 12, 2012

My cousin, Chuck Williams, aka, BBI, and I met with Steve Snyder, of Vault Cars, at Barrett Jackson's Classic Car Auction, in Scottsdale Arizona....We discussed our great uncle's, 1940 Packard Victoria.... which has been in ...

an eye-popping statement of beauty and luxury.

Apr 01, 2012

Tom Lyle Williams, had an eye for exquisite motor cars and purchased cars that are today considered some of the best of the classic era. Tom Lyle Williams, 1939 Packard Super 8 Convertible coupe, with bumper guards and ...

IMAGE - The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Mar 31, 2012

Click for dates. THANK YOU TO STEVE SNYDER OF VAULT CLASSIC CARS FOR MAKING THIS PHOTO SHOOT POSSIBLE.... Posted by Sharrie Williams at 9:42 AM · Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest.

THE MAYBELLINE STORY : 1940 Packard Victoria by ...

Jan 21, 2012

My cousin Chuck Williams, aka, BB1, and I met up with Bill's son, Steve Snyder of VAULTCARS, at Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction, this week and discussed making a documentary on this very rare automobile. I will post it sometime in March, so stay tuned for stories and facts that have been in the Vault for 60 years. Posted by Sharrie Williams at 1:55 PM · Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to FacebookShare to Pinterest. Labels: 1940 Packard Victoria, Barrett Jackson ...

THE MAYBELLINE STORY : Maybelline founder's 1940 ...

Mar 28, 2012

My interview with Steve Snyder, owner of Vault Classic Cars... and the son of Bill and Jo Ellen Snyder, owners of this beautiful, custom, 1940 Packard Victoria... once owned by, Maybelline founder and owner, Tom Lyle ...

Be sure to visit my Hilarious 1964 High School Diary Blog...Saffrons Rule at saffronsrule.com

MULTI MILLION DOLLAR CAR...Clark Gable and Carole Lombard fell in love in his '35 Duesenberg.

Clark Gable was the original owner of this beautiful 1935 Duesenberg JN with custom coachwork by Bohman and Schwartz.


Gable, Lombard and a '35 Duesenberg

By JERRY GARRETT / The New York Times

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/business/auto-news/gable-lombard-and-a-35-duesenberg-647560/#ixzz24UpTV4Hb 

Clark Gables 1935 Duesenberg Model JN Convertible Coupe  by Gooding & Company was up for auction last weekend in Pebble Beach, California at the Concours d' Elegance.  Bidding went as high as $6.4 million but that wasn't high enough to meet the seller's predetermined "reserve" price, so this Duesenberg didn't sell.

The glamours Duesenberg played a part in Gable's famous relationship with Carole Lombard. The two met at a party after which they went for a long drive...and the rest is Hollywood history.

Of course all this talk about Hollywood glamour makes me think about my great uncle Tom Lyle Williams and his 1940 Packard Victoria, coachwork by Bohman and Schwartz.. Here it is today in this video.

Maybelline Founder Tom Lyle Williams, standing next to his 1940 Packard Victoria at his Villa Valentino in the Hollywood HIlls. 

Tom Lyle Williams, Packard Victoria restored by Steve Snyder's father, Bill Snyder, owner of the car today.

http://vimeo.com/29981530   Speaking of classic romantic cars, check out this video of my father Bill Williams Clenet Series 1, number 13.....which placed second in the Neo-Classic category.  The 5th annual Desert Classic Concours d’Elegance, was held February 17 – 26, 2012, at The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort in Rancho Mirage, California. Hailed by Der Spiegel magazine as one of the "Top Ten Classic Car Shows in the World."   

Want to know more about Tom Lyle Williams 1940 Packard Victoria or his nephew Bill Williams 1977 Clenet made by Clenet Coachworks in Santa Barbara, or anything about Chuck Williams-BB1, Steve Snyder Donna Williams or me, Sharrie Williams, just click on our names.

Maybelline's spectacular one of a kind classic car.

Meeting with Packard historian, and owner of VAULT CARS,  Steve Snyder, was a real eye opener!!!

Steve brought out a thick folder, documenting the history of my great uncle, Tom Lyle Williams, Packard Victoria and gave us a history lesson that few car collectors ever hear.  But before all the fun began, I signed my book, The Maybelline Story, to his parents, Bill and Jo Ellen Snyder..... who also had priceless stories about this special car.

According to Steve's documentation, the Packard Victoria, was advertised for sale in 1952,  in Los Angeles, in a big photo ad in..... 

October 1952 Motor Trend,

                    the October issue if Motor Trend, for $2,900.

That sum would have purchased a brand new '52 Buick Super Convertible, so the 12 year old Packard was still mighty desirable at the time.

Next, It was shown in a color photo, in it's

 original cream color....

                                in Borgeson & Jaderquist's 1955 book,
                                "Sports and Classic Cars." 

January, 1955 Motor Trend.

                   In January 1955 Motor Trend ads,
                    had the car available for $1,200....

According to Steve, the car showed up in the February, 1966 issue of Hemmings Motor News, which was then quaintly organized into

 "Ford" and "Non-Ford" sections.

"It's an easy car to spot," Steve said, "since the combination of 1940 chassis with 148" wheelbase, Bohman and Schwartz Victoria bodywork..... 

and, Horse head, hood ornament and unique headlight bezels and parking lights identify this car."

Bill Snyder, (the owner since 1971,) had a conversation with Chris Bohman, who told him, "this was the only car on the 148' wheelbase, and the only Packard Victoria done by Bohman & Schwartz in 1940."

In 1971, the car turned up again...

 in Old Cars Weekely, in Kahoka, Missouri, and when Bill Snyder saw the ad, the rest was history.

According to Steve's father, Bill Snyder, there was
 one other Packard Victoria done by Bohman & Schwartz, but it's a 1941 model, on a shorter, 138" Chassis, and it has a different fender treatment and hood ornament.

Bill, Jo Ellen and Steve Snyder.

Stay tuned tomorrow,  for a taped interview with Steve Snyder, as he sits at the wheel of the Packard Victoria and tells the entire story.

1940 Packard Victoria by Bohman & Schwartz, ready for it's close up!

Tom Lyle Williams 1940 convertible, Packard Victoria, ready to come out of the Vault

Tom Lyle's 16 year old nephew, Dick Williams in the driver's seat of his uncle's 1940 Packard Victoria. The extra long, 20 foot, bumper to bumper body, made it one of a kind. Picture shot at The Villa Valentino, 1947.

Tom Lyle's Packard Victoria, built by Bohman & Schwartz, is now part of Bill Snyder's collection, in Southern California.  My cousin Chuck Williams, aka, BB1, and I met up with Bill's son, Steve Snyder of VAULTCARS, at Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction, this week and discussed making a documentary on this very rare automobile. I will post it sometime in March, so stay tuned for stories and facts that have been in the Vault for 60 years.

Maybelline family Christmas, during WW ll, 1943.

Merry Christmas, 1943, with the Noel J. and Frances Williams family.

Christmas poker game with Noel J,  Dick,  Neppy, Frances and antie Ida, (Frances sister.) Chicago.
Click on pictures to enlarge!!!!

 

Noel J, with two of his four children, 23 year old,
 Neppy and 11 year old Dick Williams.



Dick Williams, playing with one of his Christmas presents, a toy, WW ll, bomber plane.  Dick was fascinated with speed and was the first kid in school, to have a motorcycle, when he was only 14 years old.  

In January, I will be posting more about Dick Williams and the beautiful Excalibur's, he collected after the sale of the Maybelline Co. during the 1970s.

Also in January I will be at the Barrett Jackson Classic Car Auction again this year, with my cousin Chuck Williams, aka, BB1.  We  have found Tom Lyle's 1940 Packard Victoria, built by the custom body builders Bohman & Schwartz, and will be doing a series of video's for the Maybelline Blog.  This is going to be very exciting for those of you who love vintage classic cars.