Drivetrain
Chassis
Body
1934 Packard Super 8 Convertible Victoria Rare and Desirable Full Classic
Packard was founded by brothers James Ward Packard , William Doud Packard and his partner George Lewis Weiss in the city of Warren, OH. James Ward believed that they could build a better horseless carriage that the Winton cars owned by Weiss (An important Winton stockholder) and James Ward, himself a mechanical engineer, had some ideas how to improve on the designs of current automobiles. By 1899, they were building vehicles. The company, which they called the Ohio Automobile Company, quickly introduced a number of innovations in its designs, including the modern steering wheel and years later the first production 12-cylinder engine.
While Ford was producing cars that sold for $440, the Packards concentrated on more upscale cars that started at $2,600. Packard automobiles developed a following not only in the United States, but also abroad, with many heads of state owning them. Throughout the nineteen-tens and twenties, Packard built vehicles consistently were among the elite in luxury automobiles. The company was commonly referred to as being one of the "Three P's" of American motordom royalty, along with Pierce and Peerless. Packard's leadership of the luxury car field was supreme.
Entering into the 1930s Packard attempted to beat the stock market crash and subsequent depression by manufacturing ever more opulent and expensive cars than it had prior to October 1929. The Packard Twin Six was introduced for 1932, and re-named the Packard Twelve for the remainder of its run (through 1939). For one year only, 1932, Packard tried fielding an upper-medium-priced car called the Light Eight. As an independent automaker, Packard did not have the luxury of a larger corporate structure absorbing its losses as Cadillac did with GM and Lincoln with Ford. However, Packard did have a better cash position than other independent luxury marques. Packard also had one other advantage that some other luxury automakers did not; a single production line. By maintaining a single line, and inter-changeability between models, Packard was able to keep its costs down. Packard did not change cars as often as other manufacturers did at the time. Rather than introducing new models annually, Packard began using its own "Series" formula for differentiating its model change-overs in 1923. New model series did not debut on a strictly annual basis, with some series lasting nearly two years, and others lasting as short a time as seven months. In the long run, though, Packard did average approximately one new series per year. By 1930, Packard automobiles were considered part of the "Seventh Series". By 1942, Packard was in its "Twentieth Series". There never was a "Thirteenth Series".
Arguably the most desirable year of Packard production and therefore one of the most desirable Pre-War cars, is the '34 or Eleventh Series with its fully skirted fenders and more streamlined appearance. The '34 Packard is on many collectors list of cars of must have cars.
This very honest example appears to have never required a body off restoration so still has the factory solidity that makes such a car so special. The car was in a collection in Texas for roughly 30 years before being acquired by our client who has mechanically recommissioned the car with a rebuilt carb and fuel system, Head and Valve work with a new head gasket and resurfacing, new tires, and battery. The car runs and drives very well and can be pressed into immediate service.
The Seat Leather and other Interior wood trim appear be original. The car wears an older paint job with some very minor imperfections visible only upon close inspection, but we do not believe it to be the original finish. The top is is fine condition with no rips or tears. Overall this car presents very well and would be a great tour car. One has to get pretty close to it to see any flaws really...its a gorgeous car
The Convertible Victoria is one of the most desirable body styles. It's a quintessentially classic era design with its enclosed rear seat and almost square top with blind rear quarters. The proportions of a Convertible Victoria body are just perfect really Its easy to see why they are such desirable cars.
This is a rare opportunity to get one reasonably and drive and enjoy it or possibly cosmetically improve it and make it your own. We have no record of this car ever being competitively judged, so its a Virgin so to speak.