1950' Packard Eight

Say the name Packard among car guys and youll get two likely responses: smiles from the guys who know the name and looks of bewilderment from the guys who dont. If youre a Packard fan, then you already realize that cars like this 1950 Packard are very special machines that drive superbly and offer a level of quality few other automakers could match. And if you dont know the name Packard, well, maybe this car will fill in the details for you. The fastback coupe, or club coupe, body style on this 23rd Series Packard, is the perfect antidote to the frumpy styling of the immediate post-war era. Smooth, sleek, and very streamlined, it offers a glimpse into the future with a handsome period twist. Accentuating the cars aerodynamic profile with what appears to be code Y Astral Blue paint, and its a period-perfect choice that makes the car look elegant and correct. Its not a show car, but the reasonably nice paint and good panel fit mean that youll never shy away from a show with it and with exemplary road manners, youll probably start looking for new shows to attend just so you have someplace to drive. Restrained use of chrome and stainless was a hallmark of Packard design, and the brightwork on this car is in decent shape, perhaps even original. This car also wears accessories like the windshield visor, driving lights, back-up light, and bumper guards front and rear. Luxurious yet conservative interiors were the name of the game for Packard, and this car sports tan cloth bench seats that have been reupholstered using modern materials and original patterns, so its appropriate-looking and comfortable. The gauges are arranged in two round pods holding the speedometer and clock, with auxiliary gauges tucked in between, all visible through the spokes of the very cool steering wheel. This car is equipped a 3-speed manual transmission with a column shifter, but with all that straight-8 torque, you dont really need to do a lot of shifting. Secondary controls are arrayed under the dash with big ivory-colored knobs and the original Packard vertical AM radio is still in its original slot, although it is sadly inoperable. The back seat is spacious enough for real-sized adults and despite the fastback profile, the trunk is spacious and includes a full-sized spare tire. The 288 cubic inch straight-8 engine features nine main bearings and impeccable smoothness, as youd expect from the biggest name in inline eights. It wont win any drag races, but theres a swell of torque at any speed and the transmission needs only to get into high gear and stay there, letting the engines low-RPM grunt do all the work. The engine paint is almost Packard Green, but the rest appears stock, including the big air cleaner, downdraft carburetor, and generator. The exhaust system has a pleasant 8-cylinder hum thats totally appropriate and its virtually silent at speed. The unrestored undercarriage shows off years of clean living with surface scale and grease, but no glaring issues, suggesting this car has always been in a warm climate. Stock steel wheels and hubcaps are surrounded by period-correct L78-15 wide whites. This Packard represents a lot of car for the money and the attractive (and somewhat rare) body style certainly helps. Call today!