For Sale: 1936 Packard Eight in Torrance, California

West Coast Classics are proud to present this very rare senior Packard, a 1936 1401 Eight Coupe Roadster on which Packard built its reputation for smooth and luxurious straight-eight power, formal elegance, and with the desirable open-body that Packards from the companys Fourteenth Series became legendary for with its appeal going way beyond raw speed or flash. It is about exact proportions, superb craftsmanship, and how a senior Packard from this era combines both long-wheelbase luxury with the unique rarity in open top form to set it apart from the sedans that carried much of the brands production volume.Chassis No: 392685Engine No: 392685Body Style: Coupe Roadster (Style No. 902)Engine: 320 Cu. In. L-Head Straight-Eight / 130 BHPTransmission: 3-Speed Synchromesh Manual  Yellow exterior Beige convertible top Red leather interior Inlay wood dash In-dash clock Rumble seat Goddess of Speed mascot Cellular radiator Accelerator linkage Trippe lights Spotlight Coil springs Fold-up luggage rack Painted wire wheels with bright trim rings and centers Wide Whitewall tires Dual side-mount spares with metal cases and accessory lamps.This rare and highly prized open-top "Senior" Packard features a factory-built body and is a cozy, personal luxury machine for the owner-driver. It includes a sports cabin for two, roll-up glass side windows, and a fold-away tan canvas top that turns it into a weather-tight coupe. Extra passengers sit in the rear "rumble seat," which completely hides away into the rear decklid when closed to maintain a streamlined profile. Stylistically, it benefits from mid-30s aerodynamic trends, featuring pontoon fenders, a slightly raked V-shaped radiator grille, and bullet-shaped headlamps and despite having a smaller displacement engine (320 cu in vs. the 1920 model's 384 cu in), the 1936 engine generates 25 more horsepower (130 hp vs. 105 hp)! Advancements in fuel delivery, manifold design, and compression ratios allowed Packard to pull more efficiency and power out of a lighter engine block by 1936Drivability and Civilization: By 1936 the 1401 was a marvel of pre-war engineering. It boasts a synchromesh transmission for effortless gear changes, a 9-bearing straight-eight engine noted for zero vibration, vacuum-servo assisted brakes for modern stopping power, and automatic thermostatically-controlled grille shutters to regulate engine heatBuilt during the depths of the Great Depression when luxury sales had cratered the total senior Packard production was highly limited, making intact factory-built open-top models like this Coupe Roadster immensely rare.The 1936 model is heavily favored by collectors who love participating in vintage driving tours due to its highly refined mechanical mannersPre-war American luxury cars remain a specialized niche amongst the most discerning of collectors with well-presented senior Packards like this example continuing to attract serious interest due to their offerings of real historical weight, unmistakable styling, and a direct connection to one of the obviously preeminent names of the Classic Era.The 1936 model year belonged to Packards Fourteenth Series, a period when the company was expanding its reach with the junior One-Twenty, while still preserving its more traditional senior cars. The 1401 sat in that senior Eight family, positioned above the high-volume One-Twenty and built on the 134-inch wheelbase chassis that helped give these cars their stately proportions.Under the hood, the 1401 Eight used Packards 320-cubic-inch L-head straight-eight rated at 130 horsepower matched to a 3-speed manual transmission.Production helps explain the models collector appeal today. Packard built 61,027 cars for 1936, but only 3,973 were from the 1401 Eight series, making any surviving senior-series open car a much rarer sight than the companys junior models from the same year.But its this rare and desirable Coupe Roadster body that makes this senior Packard so collectible and rare. Packard identifies the 1936 1401 Coupe Roadster as body style No. 919, a useful reminder that this was a specific and relatively exclusive configuration within the wider Eight range rather than just another open Packard from the period with Packards tall upright grille and long hood stretched over the straight-eight, flowing separate fenders, broad running boards, and a compact open cabin that gives the whole car a more sporting silhouette than the formal sedans in the same family.Its that understated approach that was part of the attraction as Packard did not need exaggerated ornament or outsized performance claims to make an impression, the proportions and sheer presence of the car said it all.Interest in senior pre-war Packards is clearly the strongest with the open cars sitting at the top of that hierarchy compared to the more common closed-body Packards of the era.Sales are rare, a most recent result showing one 1936 Packard Eight 1401 recording a $165,000 sale in 2021.Collectors who follow high-end American pre-war cars closely will note that this senior Packard open car has the ultimate appeal with a sharply defined place amongst the classic era of American design, and one that captures Packard at its most graceful.The Pinnacle of Fourteenth Series Senior LuxuryPackard remained the undisputed benchmark of American luxury in 1936, and senior models like the 1401 Eight Coupe Roadster perfectly illustrate why the brand dominated the premium market. Long before postwar tailfins and V-8 horsepower wars reshaped automotive design, Packard built its legendary status on smooth straight-eight power, formal elegance, and an commanding road presence. That timeless appeal makes this exceptional Fourteenth Series Coupe Roadster a natural standout for the Mecum Indy 2026 lineup.The 1936 model year represented a pivotal moment for the Detroit automaker. While Packard successfully expanded its market share with the lower-priced "Junior" One-Twenty line, it fiercely preserved the uncompromising build quality of its elite "Senior" motorcars. Notably, Packard skipped the "Thirteenth Series" designation entirely due to traditional triskaidekaphobia, moving directly from the Twelfth Series to the Fourteenth. The 1401 Eight occupied a coveted sweet spot in this hierarchy, positioned safely above the mass-production volume cars and utilizing a stately 134-inch wheelbase chassis that gave the vehicle its magnificent, sweeping proportions.Style 902: Sportive Elegance Meets Everyday UtilityAmong the open-body senior Packards, the Coupe Roadster (Style No. 902) is widely considered one of the most harmonious designs of the pre-war era. Unlike traditional, minimalist roadsters of the early 1930s, the Coupe Roadster offered a highly sophisticated, convertible configuration. It combined the wind-in-your-hair thrill of a true sporting machine with the civilizing comforts of roll-up side windows, a robust, weatherproof soft top, and the perennially desirable rumble seat for extra passengers.Its aesthetic appeal is rooted in balance, craftsmanship, and restraint. The long hood line, accented by Packards signature ox-horn radiator shell and iconic Goddess of Speed mascot, flows seamlessly into a low-slung cabin. This personal, open-air body style feels far scarcer and more full of character than the formal sedans that comprised the vast majority of Packards production volume. Today, surviving open-top Senior Packards are exceptionally rare, as many closed cars were lost to time or repurposed for parts, elevating intact Coupe Roadsters to the upper echelons of the collector market.Legendary Straight-Eight RefinementBeneath the dual-hinged hood rests the mechanical heart of Packard's prestige: the 320-cubic-inch L-head straight-eight e...for more information please contact the seller.