Vehicle Description
This 1940 Packard Custom Super-8 One-Eighty Convertible Sedan by
Darrin is an absolute beauty and multi-time Classic Car Club of
America (CCCA) award-winning automobile. After several seemingly
promising years, by 1940, Packard was again struggling to keep up
with its American automaker contemporaries. The economic conditions
in the United States at the time were looking fairly decent and
trending upwards. The historically high unemployment levels from a
decade earlier caused by the Great Depression were seemingly in the
rearview mirror and finally most Americans were again receiving pay
checks and thus had expendable income. In fact, American automobile
demand in 1940 was high and production rose over 30 percent
nationwide from the levels reached in 1939. Nonetheless, Packard's
production did not keep up with the rising demand and stayed on par
with its 1939 levels. One possible explanation for Packard's sales
woes can be attributed to the fact that, while classy, Packards
lacked the modern styling that was being seen across seemingly the
entire American automotive industry. Furthermore, the gap between
America's premier luxury automakers, Cadillac and Packard, grew
further apart due to Packard's new focus in the mid-level market
now competing more with the likes of Buick, Mercury, Oldsmobile,
Desoto, and even Hudson. In other words, Cadillac sat alone atop
the luxury car market and the high-end Packards and Lincolns
sitting in that second tier. Introduced on August 8, 1939, the
Eighteen Series 1940 model-year Packards sported a brand new,
freshened up look. Up front, a revised main grille sported a more
petit look and any previous Packard and was flanked by a pair
smaller grilles with vertical bars. In addition, the headlight pods
now sat flush with the fenders, no longer perched atop the short
stalks seen in the previous generations. The hood louvers also saw
significant revisions that while still sporting the horizontal
motif of the previous generation, now looked more like a series of
small doors. Parking lights were mounted atop the front fenders as
well. In line with longstanding Packard tradition, the model lines
were divided into the more moderately priced Junior Packards (i.e.
the 110 and 120) and the premium, ultra-luxurious Senior Packards
(i.e. the 160 and 180). With the Packard Twelve ceasing production
following 1939, the most prestigious, most expensive Senior
Packards available were the Custom Super-8 One-Eighty models. While
a handful of the Custom Super-8 180 bodies were built by Packard
itself, the rarest and most prestigious bodies were built by custom
body manufacturers such as Rollston and Darrin. While the 1940
Packard Rollston bodies were essentially modified '39 Twelve
bodies, the bodies by Darrin were completely new for 1940 and were
thus highly promoted by Packard. While Packard heavily promoted the
Darrin-bodied Custom Super-8 180s, their efforts were futile with
production estimates floating around a total of 50, give or take a
few, Packard Darrins built in 1940. Of course, the "Darrin" name
came from famed automobile designer Howard "Dutch" Darrin whose
team of skilled craftsman heavily modified or hand crafted
virtually every aspect of the Darrin-styled bodies out of their
Connersville, Indiana, production facility. Darrin lowered the
front profile of the 1940 Darrin Bodied Packards, including the
hoods, grilles, cowls, and windshields. The fenders were also
enlarged giving off a more accentuated look. Darrin also removed
the running boards that came on the 1940 Packards, which gave the
Super-8 by Darrin's an ultra-modern look. Although some early
Darrin-bodied Packards suffered from complaints of poorer handling,
Packard actually reengineered the Darrin frames to account for
Darrin's modifications which led to better performance in 1940. The
most expensive 1940 Darrin Packard was the 4 door Convertible Sedan
model which sported a whopping MSRP of $6,300. The high price tag
of the 1940 Packard 180 Convertible Sedan by Darrin also most
likely contributed to it being perhaps one of, if not, the rarest
'40 Packard. While exact production figures are a bit fuzzy with
regards to Darrin production, some believe 10 Convertible Sedans
were built while others estimate production at a mere 5 or 6. Due
to their exceptional style and extreme rarity, the Classic Car Club
of America (CCCA) considers all Darrin-bodied Packards to be Full
Classics and thus this convertible can participate in CCCA events
and CARavans. This particular example comes to us most recently
from a prominent collector of CCCA Full Classics who is believed to
have acquired the car after it won several CCCA awards. It is
further believed the restoration was completed after nearly 30
years and benefited from consultations with Howard "Dutch" Darrin
himself while he was a retiree living in California. Powering this
1940 Packard Darrin is a 356 Cubic Inch L-Head Straight 8 cylinder
engine fed by a single 2 barrel carburetor that together were said
to have produced 160 horsepower when new. The 356 Inline 8 is
backed by a 3 speed manual transmission with overdrive that is
shifted via a column-mounted shifter. Exhaust exits this '40 Custom
Super-Eight via a single chrome-tipped exhaust port. The chrome and
brightwork, including the front and rear optional bumper guards,
around this particular custom-bodied 1940 Packard 180 is in
exceptional condition and looks as if the car is almost brand new.
Likewise, the beige cloth convertible top and a glass rear window
have an impeccable appearance and the Darrin Convertible Sedan is
just as beautiful with the top up as it is with it down. The rear
trunk area is finished quite nicely with Biscuit colored carpeting
as well and, while even housing a spare tire, is surprisingly
spacious for a luxury car of this era. The body by Darrin has been
refinished in a gorgeous Laguna Maroon paint that completes the
exceptionally elegant exterior appearance of this car. The interior
on this Darrin-bodied 1940 Packard Custom Super-8 One-Eighty
Convertible Sedan is absolutely stunning! The front and rear bench
seats have been reupholstered is gorgeous Beige leather. The
matching upholstered door panels, biscuit-colored carpeting, padded
dash and steering wheel are all in fantastic condition and appear
to remain in their stock configuration. The instrument cluster is
equipped with a 120 MPH speedometer, temperature gauge, oil
pressure gauge, battery gauge, and fuel gauge. The dash also comes
equipped with a locking glovebox with a clock integrated into its
face. This 1940 Packard Darrin also comes outfitted with the
optional AM radio and under-dash heater, both of which further add
to the ultra-luxurious look and feel of this high-class pre-war
Packard. Whether you're looking to add to your existing collection
of custom-bodied CCCA Full Classics or you're buying your very
first one and want the best of the best, this 1940 Packard Custom
Super-8 One-Eighty Convertible Sedan by Darrin would make an
excellent choice. Give Ellingson's a call today at
763-428-7337!
*356 Cu. In. L-Head Straight 8
*Single 2 Barrel Carburetor
*3 Speed Manual Transmission w/ Overdrive
*160 Horsepower
*Multi-Time CCCA Award Winner
*Previously Owned by Several Prominent Collectors
*1 of (at most) 10 Produced
*Laguna Maroon Exterior
*Beige Leather Interior
*Beige Cloth Convertible Top
*Stock Instrumentation
*Odometer Reads: 36,928 Miles
If an inaccurate automobile price is inadvertently listed on this
Website, Seller reserves the right to NOT honor the erroneous
price.
For more information and a current list of vehicles, call
763-428-7337.
