1941 Packard Super Eight 180
Mar 27, 2024 17:41:08 #
This car was designed by Howard " Dutch " Darrin. His penchant for the " Darrin Dip " in the doors is clear in this design. Another feature he was noted for is lowering the motor deeper into the frame which allowed the car to have a lower overall profile. While his designs had a lot of flash and flare, he personally never acquired the status he eagerly sought in the automotive world, particularly among Hollywood's elite.
This car had a 356 c.i. engine putting out 160 hp. which were middle range numbers for the times. In the introductory year of 1940, 50 of these cars were sold at the purchase price of $4,550. In 1941, sales fell to35 units at a price of $4,595. Later that year saw the U.S. enter the war and no further cars of this design were produced.
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This car had a 356 c.i. engine putting out 160 hp. which were middle range numbers for the times. In the introductory year of 1940, 50 of these cars were sold at the purchase price of $4,550. In 1941, sales fell to35 units at a price of $4,595. Later that year saw the U.S. enter the war and no further cars of this design were produced.
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Mar 27, 2024 18:17:55 #
Mar 27, 2024 18:38:36 #
Tom, have you ever heard of a Packard coupe or roadster of this vintage that had a removable glass bubble top? When I was a small child our landlord who drove a big black Packard had a daughter with some kind of car that was supposed to be a Packard that had that top. We kids were never allowed near the garage where the car was kept, because the top was hoisted into the rafters when not on the car. Mind you, I was 5 years old when told about this and have no memory of the car or ever actually seeing the glass top...we moved across town in 1950 when I was seven years old.
Mar 27, 2024 19:01:13 #
What a great looking automobile! From your narrative I gather only about 85 were ever made?
Mar 27, 2024 19:33:39 #
Mar 28, 2024 06:36:17 #
UTMike wrote:
Elegant machine, Tom!
Hey, Mike.
Interestingly, this model was one of the first Packards to forego running boards.
See you.
Mar 28, 2024 06:39:37 #
terryMc wrote:
Tom, have you ever heard of a Packard coupe or roa... (show quote)
Hi, Terry.
I've not heard of a Packard with a such a feature. Most likely, it's a custom application.
I'll do some research and see what I can find.
Tom
Mar 28, 2024 06:53:38 #
mr spock wrote:
What a great looking automobile! From your narrative I gather only about 85 were ever made?
Thanks for stopping by.
According to the historical info I have, that 85 number is correct.
Stay safe out there.
Tom
Mar 28, 2024 07:04:51 #
PAR4DCR wrote:
Good looking vehicle and images Tom.
Don
Don
You know I appreciate your support, Don.
That is one of Darrin's most attractive designs....at least to me.
Clark Gable had purchased an earlier model Darrin. On two occasions, as he went around a corner, the passenger door flew open. He returned to Darrin to have it fixed the first time. After the second time, he gave it back to Darrin using less than complimentary language. His experience drifted through the Hollywood elite and played no small role in Darrin's failure to make real headway in the industry.
Mar 28, 2024 08:05:56 #
Mar 28, 2024 08:11:37 #
Mar 28, 2024 08:37:06 #
Mar 28, 2024 09:12:09 #
Caribou
Loc: St. Louis, MO
Good pics. I love the cars from the late 30s into the late 40s. They had great designs.
Mar 28, 2024 09:43:15 #
It's a beautiful car. I'd say perhaps the answer to the door problem is to have a passenger hang on to it!
Mar 28, 2024 09:57:16 #
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