Vehicle Description
FROM THE MISSOULA AUTO MUSEUM COLLECTION - Vehicle to be offered for Auction sale WITHOUT RESERVE and SOLD to the highest bidder January 19th - 22nd, 2017 at Russo and Steele's 17th Annual Scottsdale Arizona Auction at the Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. Please contact us for more information.
Packard introduced its first Eight in 1924, which was also historic as the first Packard to be equipped with four-wheel brakes. While the multi-cylinder race was in full effect by 1930, Packard's Eight, Standard Eight, and Custom and Deluxe Eights were company mainstays throughout the difficult 1930s. Throughout production, Packard's various Eight model lines were a company mainstay that helped keep Packard at the pinnacle of the American luxury-car market prior to America's full-scale involvement in World War II.
By 1940, the top-of-the-line Packards were the Super Eight 160 and Custom Super Eight 180. Both were powered by a 160-horsepower engine which was powerful enough to carry the stately bodies. These two series were distinguished by a number of visual items including hubcaps, identification scripts, and hood louvers. The 160 was given a 'flying lady' mascot while the 180 carried the Packard Cormorant.
An important part of Packard's Eighteenth Series, the 1940 Packard 160 Super Eight was introduced during August 1939. The new eight-cylinder engine developed 160 rated horsepower at 3,200 rpm, hence the "160" designation. Of L-head design, this 356 cubic-inch eight was developed for durability and near-silence of operation with nine main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, and aluminum pistons. A three-speed manual transmission and four-wheel hydraulic brakes rounded out the Super Eight 160 mechanical package. Available options included dual side mounted spares, bumper guards, a radio, heater, spotlight, and steel spoked wheels. Three wheelbase lengths were offered, comprising the 127-inch Model 1803 mounting most available body styles, the 138-inch Model 1804 with only a five-passenger sedan, and the 148-inch Model 1805 with a touring limousine and eight-passenger sedan.
Only 5,662 examples of all nine body styles were produced in the Super Eight 160 Series for 1940. Offered from the Missoula Auto Museum collection without reserve, this 1940 Packard Super Eight 160 features a very attractive paint finish, correct and original-appearing interior compartment with wood grain trim and banjo-style steering wheel, driver-quality engine bay, side mounted spares, and bumper guards, plus steel wheels mounting bright hubcaps, trim rings, and white sidewall tires. As offered, it marks a desirable example of an upscale prewar Packard model.
