Packard Eight

The Packard Eight was a luxury automobile produced by Packard between 1930 and 1938, and was a progression from the earlier Packard Six which was first introduced in 1913.[1]

Packard Eight
1930 De Luxe Eight Roadster
Overview
Manufacturer	Packard
Production	1930-35
Assembly	Packard Automotive Plant, Detroit, MI
Body and chassis
Class	Luxury 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
Layout	Front engine, rear drive
Related	Light Eight 120
Chronology
Predecessor	Packard Six
Successor	Packard 180

Offered in four models, the Standard Eight, Custom Eight, [2], De Luxe Eight,[3] and Speedster it was powered by a low-compression aluminum-head[4] L-head inline eight[5] producing 90 bhp (67 kW)[6] (hence the name).[7] Packard ads bragged the engine "floated" on new rubber mounts.[8] Power would be upgraded to 110 hp (82 kW) in 1932[9] and 120 hp (89 kW) in 1933.[10]

The Eight offered optional (no extra cost)[11] four-speed synchromesh transmission.[12] Like other Packards of this era, it featured Ride Control, a system of dash-adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers.[13] The Eight also featured automatic chassis lubrication[14] and "shatterproof" glass.[15]

The Eight was available on several wheelbases: 127.5 in (3,240 mm) and 134.5 in (3,420 mm) for the 1930 Standard Eight,[16] 140 in (3,600 mm)[17] and 145.5 in (3,700 mm) for the De Luxe in 1931,[18] 130 in (3,300 mm) and 137 in (3,500 mm) for the 1932 Standard Eight.[19] 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[23] & Sport Phaeton (a four-door four-seat dual-cowl phaeton new in 1932)[24] two-door coupé,[25] four-door sedan, landau,[26] town car,[27] and limousine. The Packard eight utilized a very rare swivel accelerator pedal, patented by Pat Au back in the early 1900s.

Production of the De Luxe Eight was less than ten per day.[28] It was available in eleven body styles.[29]

In 1930, the Eight was factory priced between US$2425 and US$2885 for the Standard Eight, US$3190 to US$3885 for the Custom Eight, and US$4585 to US$5350.[30] In 1932, prices ranged from US$2250 to US$3250[31] for the Standard Eight, while the De Luxe Eight started at US$3150.[32]

The Packard Speedster Eight Model 734 was a sporty 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 smaller and narrower coachwork. The 734 straight eight engine is derived from the 740 Custom Eight's. It differs in valve and manifold revisions, a dual updraft carburetor, a vacuum booster pump and a ribbed exhaust manifold. The engine delivers 145 HP (740: 106 HP) without increase in bore or stroke, which remain at 3½ x 5 in.

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 117 cars were built.

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 Continental Eight and the Continental Eight Deluxe, which were longer wheelbases of the Standard Eight. Period advertisements showed examples with body colored radiator grilles whereas the Standard models had chrome grilles.[33]

The 1932 Standard Eight was offered in thirteen body styles.[34] In 1933, base price of the Standard Eight was US$2150,[35] and was offered in fourteen body styles.[36] The 1933 De Luxe Eight started at US$3350.[37]

The five-passenger sedan was Packard's best-selling model for years.[38] This helped Packard become the best-selling luxury brand between 1924 and 1930,[39] as well as selling almost twice as many abroad as any other marque priced over US$2000.[40]

• 
  1927 Packard Eight Model 343 Convertible Sedan by Murphy
• 
  1932 De Luxe Eight 904 sedan limousine
• 
  1934 Standard Eight 1101 convertible sedan
• 
  1930 Packard Eight Series 734 Speedster Roadster
• 
  1930 Packard type 734 Boattail Speedster