Packard Eight
1931 Packard Individual Custom Eight Type 840 Dietrich Convertible Sedan[1]
Overview
ManufacturerPackard
Production1924-36
AssemblyPackard Automotive Plant, Detroit, MI
Body and chassis
ClassLuxury car
Body style•2-door roadster
•2-door coupé
•2-door convertible Victoria
•4-door sedan
•4-door phaeton
•4-door dual-cowl phaeton & Sport Phaeton
•town car
•landau
LayoutFront engine, rear drive
RelatedLight Eight
120
Powertrain
Engine319.2 cu in (5.2 L) L-head inline eight
357.8 cu in (5.9 L) L-head inline eight
384.8 cu in (6.3 L) L-head inline eight
Transmission3-speed Manual transmission
Chronology
PredecessorPackard Six
SuccessorPackard 120 (1935)
Packard 200 (1951)

The Packard Eight was a luxury automobile produced by Packard between 1924 and 1936,[2] and was an all new platform that took the top market position from the earlier Packard Twin Six which was first introduced in 1916.[3] When it was introduced, it was designated as the senior Packard. It remained so until the Super Eight and Custom Super Eight were introduced in the 1940s.[4]

History

Packard's first eight-cylinder engine was introduced as the Single Eight with two wheelbases offered in 136 in (3,500 mm) and 143 in (3,600 mm), while sharing a naming convention with the junior Single Six.[1]

Starting in 1928, new naming conventions were offered; the Standard Eight and the more opulent Custom Eight,[5] the De Luxe Eight,[6] was introduced in 1929 and in 1930 the Speedster was introduced, which was offered with a low-compression aluminum-head[7] L-head inline eight[8] producing 90 bhp (67 kW)[9] (hence the name).[10] Packard ads bragged the engine "floated" on new rubber mounts.[11] Power would be upgraded to 110 hp (82 kW) in 1932[12] and 120 hp (89 kW) in 1933.[13]

Design

The Eight offered optional (no extra cost)[14] four-speed synchromesh transmission.[15] Like other Packards of this era, it featured Ride Control, a system of dash-adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers.[7] The Eight also featured automatic chassis lubrication[16] and "shatterproof" glass.[17]

The Eight was available on a variety of wheelbases: 127.5 in (3,240 mm) and 134.5 in (3,420 mm) for the 1930 Standard Eight,[9] 140 in (3,600 mm)[18] and 145.5 in (3,700 mm) for the 1930 De Luxe Eight,[19] 130 in (3,300 mm) and 137 in (3,500 mm) for the 1932 Standard Eight.[14] For 1938, the Eight's wheelbase was stretched 7 in (180 mm) over 1937, and the body was also wider.[20]

It was advertised as a two-door roadster, two-door convertible & two-door convertible Victoria (both new for 1932),[21] phaeton,[22] four-door dual-cowl phaeton[22] & Sport Phaeton (a four-door four-seat dual-cowl phaeton new in 1932)[23] two-door coupé,[24] four-door sedan, landau,[25] town car,[26] and limousine. The Packard eight utilized a very rare swivel accelerator pedal, patented by Pat Au back in the early 1900s.

In the market

Production of the De Luxe Eight was less than ten per day.[6] It was available in eleven body styles.[18]

In 1930, the Eight was factory priced between US$2425 ($42,481 in 2022 dollars [27]) and US$2885 for the Standard Eight, US$3190 to US$3885 for the Custom Eight, and US$4585 to US$5350 ($93,721 in 2022 dollars [27]).[9] In 1932, prices ranged from US$2250 to US$3250[14] for the Standard Eight, while the De Luxe Eight started at US$3150 ($55,181 in 2022 dollars [27]).[28]

The Packard Speedster Eight Model 734 was a performance-oriented passenger car line by the Packard Motor Car Company offered for the 1930 model year (7th series) only. Based on a heavily modified Standard Eight (733) chassis, it got narrower and lower coachwork. The 734 straight eight engine is derived from the 740 Custom Eight's. It differs in valve and manifold revisions, a Detroit Lubricator dual updraft carburetor, a vacuum booster pump and a ribbed exhaust manifold. The engine delivers 145 HP (740: 106 HP) @3400 RPM without increase in bore or stroke, which remain at 3½ x 5 in. Retail prices started at US$5,200 ($91,093 in 2022 dollars [27]) for the Boattail Speedster, Runabout Speedster and Phaeton Speedster, while the Victoria Speedster and Sedan Speedster went for US$6,000 ($105,108 in 2022 dollars [27]). Speedster Eights have four instead of three speeds, and the customer could choose from several rear end ratios at no extra cost. 734 models have their parking lights mounted on the fenders, not on the body like Standard Eights. They also feature senior car's hoods with for ventilation door. Only 113 cars were built.[1]

Available 734 Speedster Eight models include:

Body style #422 Boattail Roadster Body style #443 Sedan Body style #445 Phaeton Body style #447 Victoria Body style #452 Runabout

In 1931, Packard introduced the Individual Custom Eight, which were longer wheelbases of the Standard Eight. Period advertisements showed examples with body colored radiator grilles whereas the Standard models had chrome grilles.[29]

The 1932 Standard Eight was offered in thirteen body styles.[14] In 1933, base price of the Standard Eight was US$2150,[13] and was offered in fourteen body styles.[30] The 1933 De Luxe Eight started at US$3350.[31]

The five-passenger sedan was Packard's best-selling model for years.[32] This helped Packard become the best-selling luxury brand between 1924 and 1930,[33] as well as selling almost twice as many abroad as any other marque priced over US$2000.[34]

Packard Eight (1946-1950)

When Packard reintroduced the Packard Eight, they also introduced the Packard Station Sedan to offer a popular "woodie" appearance starting in 1948 with the modified body style,[4] then adopting a commonly called ponton appearance.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Kimes, Beverly (1996). Standard catalog of American Cars 1805–1942 (third ed.). Krause publications. pp. 1105–1141. ISBN 0-87341-478-0.
  2. ↑ Zimmerman, Frederick (5 August 2011). The Turnaround Experience: Real World Lessons in Revitalizing Corporations and Organizations. ISBN 9780983903543.
  3. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  4. 1 2 Flory, J. "Kelly" Jr. (2008). American Cars, 1946 to 1959; Every Model, Year by Year. McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7864-3229-5.
  5. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  6. 1 2 Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  7. 1 2 Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  8. ↑ Old Car Advertising Retrieved 12 September 2013
  9. 1 2 3 Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  10. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013. The same engine would be used in the 120, & remained in production until 1955.
  11. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  12. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  13. 1 2 Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 4 Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  15. ↑ Old Car Advertising; Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  16. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  17. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  18. 1 2 Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  19. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  20. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
  21. ↑ Old Car Advertising; Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  22. 1 2 Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  23. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  24. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  25. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  26. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  28. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  29. ↑ "Packard 1931". Classic Car Catalog. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  30. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  31. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  32. ↑ Old Car Advertising Retrieved 14 September 2013
  33. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
  34. ↑ Old Car Advertising. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
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