1948 Packard Eight

This 1948 Packard Eight Station Sedan Woody is a gorgeous post-war station wagon with fantastic curb appeal. While most of its luxury auto contemporaries had crumbled under the extreme economic conditions brought on by the Great Depression, Packard survived. In order to sell more cars during the Depression, Packard carved out a niche and began to offer scaled down models that were more affordable but still upscale. Put another way, the new Packards competed with the likes of Oldsmobile and Buick, rather than Cadillac. This strategy proved successful for Packard and helped the independent automaker survive the Depression. In the years that followed the Depression and World War II, the American public was yearning for new post-war styled motor vehicles. See, most American car manufacturers, including the Big Three, were still producing their 1946 and 1947 models using their pre-war dies since the cost to develop new dies was extremely expensive. Seeking to get a leg up on Americas Big Three automakers, many independents, like Packard, decided to develop new dies (despite the excessive cost) and beat the Big Three to market on new Post-War designs. Introduced in August of 1947, the new-look Packard models were gorgeous. While a few critics lamented the bulging, rounded lines, the New York Fashion Academy awarded the 48 Packard its Fashion Car of the Year Award. From the headlights to the taillights, the side panels had an elegantly smooth Flow Through profile sitting just below a tasteful belt line ridge. The hoods were more flat which gave them a longer look as they sat above the modern new grille layout. In 1948, Packard added a new body-style to its lineup, the Station Sedan, a station wagon that was too pretty (and likely too pricey) to be a utilitarian workhorse. Besides the price, the design was perceived as impractical. For example, the long steel roofline sloped down into the rear tailgate, that albeit pretty, made for a smaller, less practical rear cargo area. The side panels, window trim, and rear cargo door were all trimmed in decorative two-tone wood paneling which gave a truly elevated look to Packards station sedan. Additionally, since the body utilized a steel frame design, the station sedan was touted for its strength and durability. Nonetheless, the Station Sedan was said to be a sales flop with its high price and perceived impracticality. It is believed that during the three years Packard produced the Station Sedan, less than 3,900 units were built which makes this particular example a rare piece of automotive history. This 1948 Packard Station Sedan came to us from a prominent collection where it spent the past 15+ years. Under the hood on this 48 Packard Woody is a 288 Cubic Inch L-Head Inline 8 engine fed by a single 2 barrel carburetor that together were said to have created 130 horsepower when new. The 288 Straight 8 is backed by a 3 speed manual transmission with overdrive which makes this Packard Station Sedan a wonderful choice for cruising. Exhaust exits through a single exhaust setup that generates a nice throaty sound out of the rear tailpipe. Riding on a set of wide whitewall bias-ply tires mounted on wire wheels with Packard hubcaps, this 1948 Packard has a fantastic look whether youre parked at the local car show or cruising down the open road. This Packard Eight Woody Station Sedan comes equipped with a pair of chrome spotlights backed by chrome mirrors, further aiding your ability to see your surroundings. The exterior has been refinished in a gorgeous Cavalier Maroon Metallic paint which is accented with beautiful wooden trim and paneling. The interior of this 1948 Packard Eight Station Sedan Woody looks great! The front and rear bench seats are upholstered in two-tone beige vinyl that gives a nice stock look to the inside of this Packard. The matching upholstered door panels, rubber floor mats, woodgrain trimmed dash, and steering wheel all appear to be in wonderful condition and retain a nice stock appearance. The instrument cluster is outfitted with a 110 MPH speedometer, temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, battery gauge, and fuel gauge, along with a full-size clock. The dash is finished with a center-mounted push-button AM radio with speaker, locking glovebox, and various climate and lighting controls. Whether youre buying your first classic car or youre adding to your existing collection of station wagons, this 1948 Packard Eight Station Sedan Woody would make an excellent choice. Give Ellingsons a call today at 763-428-7337!