Vehicle Description
Cruisin Classics is excited and proud to introduce to you this
simply spectacular 1932 Packard Model 902 Standard Eight Coupe.
Though one of the more affordable offerings in the Packard line
($2,655-3,450 when new) this coupe is like all Packards - luxury
cars that were highly refined, fitted with luxurious coachwork, and
powered by proven engineering. We actually have a copy of the sales
agreement from when this Packard was sold used in 1933 (just a year
and a half after its production) by Washington Motors in Newton
Massachussetts to a Mr. Ralph Laffey for $1,650 - it's amazing to
see! This would have most certainly been a car for the upper class,
in a whole different category than the Fords, Dodges, and
Chevrolets of the day. Ninety-two years ago only 3,737 of these 902
coupes were made, making them quite rare today. This particular car
comes with an appraisal from 2008 valuing it at $105,000 when it
was in Ontario Canada. The most recent owner of this beautiful
machine bought it in 2015 and immediately got started with
restoration work that took several years to complete. We have a
3-ring binder filled with receipts that total $77,622.41 from 2015
to present. The engine and transmission were both rebuilt, the car
was disassembled, the wiring was redone, the chrome was redone
($11,300 just for re-chroming), and the manifolds were coated in
porcelain, and this just scratches the surface! The restoration was
extensive, to say the least. The result of all of that work that
sits before us today is an absolutely gorgeous example of a 1932
luxury automobile.
This Packard Coupe is dressed in an exceptionally nice two-tone
green paint job with tasteful red pinstriping on the raised darker
green portions. While the paintwork is excellent, it does still
have a few minor imperfections that can be found if you're looking
for them. Dazzling bright chrome is abundant and it begins up front
with an enormous grille with vertical bars. The grille features a
large and iconic "Goddess of Speed" ornament at the top and a
colorful Packard Crest badge at its lower center portion. The
grille is flanked by two massive chrome headlights that measure
almost a foot across perched on a chrome bar that connects the
swooping fenders. Beneath the headlights are working chrome trumpet
horns, then a single 8-inch wide headlamp centered on another
chrome bar. At the bottom is a gleaming chrome bumper with a
"Packards International" badge. Turn signal lights share the same
bright chrome finish and sit atop the fenders. The hood opens up
from both sides with dual folding panels that feature a series of 4
manually opened chrome vent doors meant to allow the engine some
room to breathe. Both sides of the Packard feature spare tires that
ride alongside the rear section of the hood, embedded in the
fenders. These tires are encased in green metal covers and wrapped
in chrome bands with side-view mirrors attached at the tops. These
tires are a match to the ones on all 4 corners - red painted wire
wheels with Packard center-caps wrapped in wide white wall bias-ply
tires - a feature that makes the car absolutely captivating to look
at. Between the spare tires and the hood are chrome-plated step
plates that allow you better access to working on the engine or
reaching the upper portions of the car. These step plates have
locks and removable tops, and the one on the passenger side houses
the battery underneath. Behind the curvaceous fenders and spare
tires are wide running boards with bright chrome trim and new
rubber mats. While you're checking out the running boards, notice
that the black body gaskets between the fenders and the car look
like they've recently been replaced. The doors have elegant,
forward-facing chrome door handles. Step up onto the running boards
and you can see the like-new black vinyl roof topper. Just behind
the passenger door and above the running board is a small
rectangular door with a key lock - this is the golf bag storage
door! That's right, a dedicated, carpeted area to stash your clubs
for a day on the links. Behind the passenger cabin of this coupe is
a feature that brings out the kid in all of us - a rumble seat! Two
platform steps lead from the passenger side rear bumper up into the
comfortable black leather seat. The floor is covered in the same
tan carpet as the cab interior and there is also a foot-rest bar.
The rumble seat latches securely just by pushing it closed, but
there is no handle on it to open it. That is because there in a
spring-loaded latch inside the cabin that, when pulled, pops open
the rumble seat lid and then you just open it the rest of the way.
At the rear of the car is a fold-down luggage rack dressed in green
with chrome accents and another colorful Packard badge. On the
luggage rack is a large black padded vinyl trunk box with chrome
trim. Inside the box, you'll find an organized collection of
original parts that were replaced during the restoration as well as
some new parts for the future. There is also a Service Parts List
Book, a Standard Service Manual, wiring diagrams, and a Max Merritt
parts catalog. Also at the rear of the car is another chrome
bumper, chrome taillights, and a polished stainless exhaust
pipe.
Under the folding hood is the original 319.2ci inline 8-cylinder
engine. The clearly legible engine number matches the engine number
written on the receipt from its sale in 1933 to the second owner.
The big cast iron block and all of its surrounding engine bay
components have obviously been attended to - it is like looking at
it back in 1932! The engine was rebuilt by Beach Performance, a
well-respected shop here in Ohio and there are a multitude of
receipts documenting all of the upgrades under the hood. Many
original parts were painstakingly rebuilt to keep this historic car
as factory-correct as possible. The block is painted Packard Green
and the engine bay and components are dressed in black and green
with chrome accents. The intake and exhaust manifolds were coated
in fresh porcelain during the restoration and they look absolutely
great. The engine starts from cold with ease and purrs so quietly
you'll question if it's running! The big 8-cylinder is mated to a
3-speed manual synchromesh transmission (also rebuilt) that shifts
with ease as it sends power to the rear wheels. Take a look
underneath this Packard to find that it was treated to the same
level of attention as all other aspects of the car. The clean,
green undercarriage is a testament to the caliber of the
restoration.
Open the driver's door to find an opulent grey and tan interior
with beautiful burled wood accents. The door panels present very
well with grey fabric that matches the seats at the top and tan
fabric that matches the carpet at the bottom. The door windows and
rear window are all surrounded with stunning wood trim. The door
handles and window cranks look OEM-correct and are in good
condition. The split bench seat is covered in very nice quality
grey fabric with brown piping and it's quite comfortable. The
driver's seat is manually adjustable (forward and backward) while
the passenger side is stationary. Overhead is a tight tan cloth
headliner with working dome light and underfoot is tan carpet with
carpeted tan floormats. While checking out the carpet you'll notice
the foot-button start, swing-away accelerator pedal, and chrome
floor-shifter with black ball for the 3-speed transmission. The
kick panels are covered in brown vinyl and both sides are equipped
with levers that open side vents to allow for fresh air to come in.
Next to the passenger kick panel is a chrome-encased TropicAire
heater box with adjustable wing doors that's operated by an
under-dash mounted dial with an arrow on i...for more information
please contact the seller.
