Vehicle Description
West Coast Classics are proud to present a fully operational 1932
Packard Light Eight Model 553 5 Passenger Sedan and one of 6,750
produced and now reportedly one of approximately 17 Light Eight
sedans left in the world. Beautifully refurbished lush interior,
runs well with a Chevrolet 360 crate engine. The car was reportedly
first purchased in March of 1932 in Arizona before coming to
California in June of 1953 where it was located in Death Valley
until 1978. Purchased by most recent owner in 1978 and by 2006 it
was completely restored to the beauty it remains today. Always
built to the highest standards, the Packard was unquestionably one
of the finest American cars of the pre-war era. Packard introduced
its first 'Eight' in 1924 and by the decade's end was building
eight-cylinder cars only. The Depression years that followed the
Wall Street Crash of October 1929 hit the USA and particularly the
American automobile industry hard. Introduced in January 1932,
together with the new V12 (aka the Twin Six? in its first year to
honor the pioneer Packard model built from 1915 to 1923). Standard
Eights and Super Eights were to be introduced to the line up in
June 1932. Powered by Packard's 5.2-litre engine, the Light Eight
was of a very advanced design for its day and was very well
received. The work of Packard's chief designer Werner Gubitz, the
Light Eight's handsome coachwork boasted sweeping modern lines
flowing back from a distinctive 'shovel nose' radiator. The motor
incorporated a built-in thermostat, thus dispensing with the need
for radiator shutters, while other noteworthy featured chassis ride
control, an automatic clutch and vacuum-powered brakes. One of
6,750 Light Eights made between January and December 1932, this
sedan is a very well maintained older restoration, the car features
twin side-mount spares, a rear-mounted luggage rack, and trim rings
on the wheels. Options for the Light Eight included Dual sided or
rear-mounted spare wheels, sidemount cover(s), cigar lighter, a
right-hand tail-light, luggage rack, full rear bumper, and fender
park lights, the latter was priced at $65.00. Construction of the
Light Eight followed the Packard tradition. It had a heavy duty
frame with X-bracing, 8-inch deep side members and the usual
rear-wheel drive. Wheelbase was 127.75 inches. Power came from a
319.2 cu in (5.2 L) flat head straight eight engine with a
compression ratio of 6:0, delivering 110 hp. This particular
example has a crate 360 c.i Chevy engine It had a vacuum-plate
clutch and an angle set hypoid differential. Battery and toolboxes
were mounted on the fenders. Full instrumentation was used. The car
was distinguished by a grille that had the traditional ox-yoke
shape, but also with a then fashionable "shovel" nose. Closed Light
Eights had a quarter window layout that was not shared by other
Packards. Amidst the Great Depression, many potential buyers for a
Standard Eight ended buying a Light Eight. Although it offered not
quite as much luxury, it had many features found in Packard's
bigger model. It was powered by the same 110 hp engine as the
Standard Eight and had a shorter wheelbase that was only 1.75-inch
shorter but its significantly lower weight with the same engine
brought much better performance. The Light Eight therefore included
the Packard prestige and whilst priced at the upper end of the
medium bracket and costing almost as much to build as the other
models it was a bargain for a Packard at this lower price. Packard
learned its lesson quickly, the factory hardly broke even and so
the Light Eight was dropped after but one year, making this one
very rare model today! There was no Light Eight for its 10th series
line in 1933, instead Packard renamed the Standard Eight as simply
the Eight and integrated a four-model sub-series that was patterned
after the Light Eight. Although the shovel nose was gone, the
quarter window treatment remained.
