Vehicle Description
This 1948 Packard Eight Station Sedan Woody is a gorgeous post-war
station wagon with fantastic curb appeal. While most of its luxury
auto contemporaries had crumbled under the extreme economic
conditions brought on by the Great Depression, Packard survived. In
order to sell more cars during the Depression, Packard carved out a
niche and began to offer scaled down models that were more
affordable but still upscale. Put another way, the new Packards
competed with the likes of Oldsmobile and Buick, rather than
Cadillac. This strategy proved successful for Packard and helped
the independent automaker survive the Depression. In the years that
followed the Depression and World War II, the American public was
yearning for new post-war styled motor vehicles. See, most American
car manufacturers, including the Big Three, were still producing
their 1946 and 1947 models using their pre-war dies since the cost
to develop new dies was extremely expensive. Seeking to get a leg
up on America's Big Three automakers, many independents, like
Packard, decided to develop new dies (despite the excessive cost)
and beat the Big Three to market on new Post-War designs.
Introduced in August of 1947, the new-look Packard models were
gorgeous. While a few critics lamented the bulging, rounded lines,
the New York Fashion Academy awarded the '48 Packard its "Fashion
Car of the Year" Award. From the headlights to the taillights, the
side panels had an elegantly smooth "Flow Through" profile sitting
just below a tasteful belt line ridge. The hoods were more flat
which gave them a longer look as they sat above the modern new
grille layout. In 1948, Packard added a new body-style to its
lineup, the Station Sedan, a station wagon that was too pretty (and
likely too pricey) to be a utilitarian workhorse. Besides the
price, the design was perceived as impractical. For example, the
long steel roofline sloped down into the rear tailgate, that albeit
pretty, made for a smaller, less practical rear cargo area. The
side panels, window trim, and rear cargo door were all trimmed in
decorative two-tone wood paneling which gave a truly elevated look
to Packard's station sedan. Additionally, since the body utilized a
steel frame design, the station sedan was touted for its strength
and durability. Nonetheless, the Station Sedan was said to be a
sales flop with its high price and perceived impracticality. It is
believed that during the three years Packard produced the Station
Sedan, less than 3,900 units were built which makes this particular
example a rare piece of automotive history. This 1948 Packard
Station Sedan came to us from a prominent collection where it spent
the past 15+ years. Under the hood on this '48 Packard Woody is a
288 Cubic Inch L-Head Inline 8 engine fed by a single 2 barrel
carburetor that together were said to have created 130 horsepower
when new. The 288 Straight 8 is backed by a 3 speed manual
transmission with overdrive which makes this Packard Station Sedan
a wonderful choice for cruising. Exhaust exits through a single
exhaust setup that generates a nice throaty sound out of the rear
tailpipe. Riding on a set of wide whitewall bias-ply tires mounted
on wire wheels with Packard hubcaps, this 1948 Packard has a
fantastic look whether you're parked at the local car show or
cruising down the open road. This Packard Eight Woody Station Sedan
comes equipped with a pair of chrome spotlights backed by chrome
mirrors, further aiding your ability to see your surroundings. The
exterior has been refinished in a gorgeous Cavalier Maroon Metallic
paint which is accented with beautiful wooden trim and paneling.
The interior of this 1948 Packard Eight Station Sedan Woody looks
great! The front and rear bench seats are upholstered in two-tone
beige vinyl that gives a nice stock look to the inside of this
Packard. The matching upholstered door panels, rubber floor mats,
woodgrain trimmed dash, and steering wheel all appear to be in
wonderful condition and retain a nice stock appearance. The
instrument cluster is outfitted with a 110 MPH speedometer,
temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, battery gauge, and fuel
gauge, along with a full-size clock. The dash is finished with a
center-mounted push-button AM radio with speaker, locking glovebox,
and various climate and lighting controls. Whether you're buying
your first classic car or you're adding to your existing collection
of station wagons, this 1948 Packard Eight Station Sedan Woody
would make an excellent choice. Give Ellingson's a call today at
763-428-7337!
*288 Cu. In. L-Head Inline 8
*Single 2 Barrel Carburetor
*3 Speed Manual w/ Overdrive
*Wide Whitewall Tires on Wire Wheels
*Dual Chrome Spotlights & Outside Mirrors
*Previous Collector Owner for Past 15+ Years
*1 of 3,900 '48-'50 Station Sedans
*Cavalier Maroon Metallic w/ Wooden Trim
*Two-Tone Beige Vinyl Bench Seat Interior
*Wood Paneled Rear Storage Compartment
*Stock Instrumentation
*Odometer Reads: 51,033 Miles
