User:Trekphiler/Packard Eight)

The Packard Eight was a luxury automobile produced by Packard between 1930 and 193x.

Offered in three models, the Standard Eight, Custom Eight, and De Luxe Eight, it was powered by a a low-compression aluminum-head 90 hp flathead inline eight L-head inline eight producing 90 bhp (hence the name). The straight eight would be upgraded to 110 hp in 1932 and 120 hp in 1933.

Packard ads bragged the engine "floated" on new rubber mounts. The Eight offered optional (no extra cost) four-speed synchromesh transmissin. Like other Packards of this era, it featured Ride Control, a system of dash-adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers. It also featured automatic chassis lubrication. The Eight also featured "shatterproof" glass.

The Eight was avaiable on several wheelbases: 127.5 in and 134.5 in for the 1930 Standard Eight, 140 in and 145.5 in for the De Luxe in 1931,  130 in and 137 in for the 1932 Standard Eight.

Production of the De Luxe Eight was less than ten per day. It was available in eleven body styles. The 1932 Standard Eight was offered in thirteen body styles.

In 1930, the Eight was factory priced between US$2425 and US$2885 for the Standard Eight, US$3190 to US3885 for the Custom Eight, and US$4585 to US$5350. In 1932, prices ranged from US$2250 to US$3250 for the Standard Eight, while the De Luxe Eight started at US$3150. In 1933, base price of the Standard Eight was US$2150, and was offered in fourteen body styles. The 1933 De Luxe Eight started at US$3350.

It was available as a two-door roadster, two-door convertible & two-door convertible Victoria (both new for 1932), phaeton, four-door dual-cowl phaeton & Sport Phaeton (a four-door four-seat dual-cowl phaeton new in 1932) two-door coupé, four-door sedan, landau, town car, and limousine. The five-passenger sedan was Packard's best-selling model for years. This helped Packard become the best-selling luxury brand between 1924 and 1930, as well as selling almost twice as many abroad as any other marque priced over US$2000.



The Light Eight replaced it in 193[3?].