Very intriguing vintage B&W photo. The man to the right is Earl Stoyer who owns the Packard dealership in Pottsville and Schuylkill Pa. He also owns the local Cadillac/Oldsmobile along with Studebaker dealerships in the area... The taller man in Jack Dempsey. The Champion heavy weight fighter of the teen and twenties. His nickname was nicknamed Kid Blackie, named so because of his full head of dark hair.
Another Cadillac/Oldsmobile dealership oned by Earl Stoyer
A local newspaper article of the day states, “Boxing great Jack Dempsey was in Pottsville on 2/19/1931 to referee a boxing match and later came to Haven by train, greeted by a large crowd. He returned to his hotel in Pottsville in a Packard from Stoyer's.” Did he purchase the Packard?
The Packard historian claims Jack Dempsey purchased a 1931 Packard 845 Deluxe sedan from Stoyer..
Packard 840 radiator ornament base is round... Cannot tell for sure which mascot on the car pictured..
Packard 845 radiator ornament.. note triangular base... This is the optional Adonis mascot (nicknamed sliding boy!) both share same base as the Goddess of Speed (Doughnut pusher)..
The main difference on the 840 between the 845 is the wheelbase of 140” verses 145” And the added 5” is from the firewall to the radiator. So the fender angle to the runner board is much noticeably less on the 845.. It's hard to tell with the two men in front of the car. My thinking it's the longer wheelbase Packard
Packard 145" wheelbase fender slope..
Packard 140" wheelbase fender slope.. Noticeably difference
In any case the 1931 Packard sold for tidy sum of $4,000.00 in the day. Jack Dempsey was a car guy of the day and owned a number of other fine cars, many roasters... Just a few I came across..
Jack behind wheel in his 1924 McFarlan,, extremely expensive car of the day
Jack in the driver's seat his 1929 Dupont