1935 Packard Eight Club Sedan

Registration No: DJJ 259
Chassis No: 387183
MOT: Exempt

• Extremely rare RHD example, with stylish ’816’ coachwork
• Originally purchased by a Canadian Industrialist for use by his daughters in London
• Professionally restored over an eight year period, at a cost of £57,758.48
• Dry stored and reputedly "not used in five or six years"

The Packard Eight was a luxury automobile produced by Packard between 1924 and 1936, and was a progression from the earlier Packard Six which was first introduced in 1913. Offered in four models, the Standard Eight, Custom Eight, De Luxe Eight, and Speedster; It was initially powered by a low-compression aluminum-head L-head inline eight producing 90 bhp (hence the name). Power would be upgraded through the years and the Eight offered optional (no extra cost) four-speed synchromesh transmission. Like other Packards of this era, it featured Ride Control, a system of dash-adjustable hydraulic shock absorbers. The Eight also featured automatic chassis lubrication and "shatterproof" glass. The Eight was available 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. For 1938, the Eight's wheelbase was stretched 7 in over 1937, and the body was also wider.

Supplied new to a Canadian Industrialist in extremely rare RHD configuration, this 1934-built example was first registered in early 1935 for use by Miss Helena Grace of Tollington Road, London - it was shared with her sister who moved across the Atlantic to be privately educated. Neither had a driving license and the car was chauffeur driven through central London on a daily basis! The Packard then fell off the radar for a good few decades before resurfacing in 1989, looking rather sorry for itself, albeit highly original and with a recorded mileage of just 63,000. Entrusted to Packard marque specialists ‘West Hoathley Garage’ of Sussex by its new French custodian, a mammoth and fully-documented photographic restoration was undertaken between 1992 and 1999, with almost £60,000 lavished in professional expenditure. Powered by a potent straight-eight engine of circa 5.3 litre capacity and fitted with a three-speed manual gearbox; this Club Sedan model is finished in ‘Regal Red’ with gold coachlining and a Beige Bedford Cord interior (retrimmed to original factory specification). Entering the current private ownership in 2006, the car has been maintained regardless of cost thereafter and still presents extremely well. It may however now benefit from an element of light recommissioning, as in the words of the elderly vendor “it hasn’t been driven in the past five or six years”. Offered with a comprehensive history file, including technical literature, restoration invoices, photographs and even three framed Packard artworks for the workshop wall!

For more information, please contact:
Adam Sykes
adam.sykes@handh.co.uk
07429 600332