Description
Founded at the dawn of the motoring age, Packard aimed its magnificent machines right at the top of the market, selling to the rich and famous alongside marques such as Duesenberg and Pierce Arrow.
The world over, the name Packard meant prestige, power and sophistication. Such was their reputation that during WW2 they manufactured the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine under licence, the only company allowed to do so outside of Rolls-Royce themselves.
Introduced in 1924, the Eight was Packard's first eight-cylinder car and also the first to employ four-wheel brakes. The nine-bearing sidevalve engine developed 90bhp at 3, 000rpm from 5. 3 litres, sufficient to propel the two-ton car to speeds of almost 80mph. Renowned for its incredible smoothness, made possible by a heavy balanced crankshaft, a Lanchester vibration damper and innovative ‘floating’ rubber engine mounts, it also had enormous low-down torque, the contemporary Cadillac V8 feeling rough and weedy by comparison.
Dating from December 1929, this rare seven-passenger limousine appears to have been supplied by Packard’s Swiss distributor, Werner Risch of Zurich, their plaque being still on the dashboard while the oil filler cap bears instructions in German.
Imported to the UK in the early 1980s, it was acquired by our vendor in 2014 from the estate of David Nobbs, owner of a large collection of vintage cars which were hired out for weddings and film work. Nobbs had acquired the car in 1999 and we are told that it has appeared in various films over the years, including the 2010 Bollywood movie ‘Veer’ (film production schedule on file), although it had previously also been in the 1986 movie ‘The Haunted Honeymoon’ where it was driven by Gene Wilder.
There are 27 old MOTs on file from 1985 to 2011 showing that the Packard has always been in regular use although the odometer has been stuck on 41, 639 miles throughout so how far it has actually travelled, who knows? Only lightly used by our vendor, it is said to be in good running order and has been kept garaged when not in use. A handbook, maintenance manual, parts list, wiring diagrams and two spare head gaskets are also included.
The equal of any Rolls-Royce or Bentley from the same era, this impressive Great Gatsby machine will turn heads wherever it goes and could doubtless still generate a healthy income on the film or wedding hire circuit should the new owner feel so inclined.
