Packard Light Eight
Encyclopedia
The Packard
Light Eight (series 900) was an automobile model produced by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan
only during model year 1932. The Light Eight was planned as a new entry model. It competed in the upper middle-class with makes like LaSalle, the smaller Buick
s and Chrysler
s, and the top-of-the offerings from Studebaker
, Hudson
, Nash
etc. The idea was to gain much needed additional business for Packard, as the grim of the depression was felt now industry-wide.
Packard did not use yearly model changes in these years. A new series appeared when management felt that there were enough running changes made. So, the Light Eight was introduced in January, 1932, together with the new V-12
(called "Twin Six" in its first year to honor the pioneer Packard model built from 1915–23). Standard Eights and Super Eight
s followed by June, 1932.
The car was distinguished at first glance with a grille that had the traditional ox-yoke shape, but also with a then fashionable "shovel" nose. Closed Light Eights had a quarter window layout that was not shared by other Packards.
As the Light Eight used the same engine as the Standard Eight but was substantially lighter (4,115 lbs for the sedan vs. 4,570 lbs for the model 901 Standard Eight sedan), it was a very good performer of its day.
Style # 553 4 door, 5 pass. Sedan
Style # 558 2 door, 2/4 pass. Stationary (rumble seat) Coupe
Style # 559 2 door, 2/4 pass. (rumble seat) Roadster Coupe
Style # 563 2 door, 5 pass. Sedan Coupe (sometimes referred as a "Victoria" Coupe)
Options for the Light Eight included Dual sided or rear mounted spare wheels, sidemount cover(s), cigar lighter, a right-hand tail-light, luggage rack, full rear bumper and fender park lights, the ladder for $65.00.
Nevertheless, the Light Eight was a very good car, with stylish lines, very good performance, and, as always with Packard, reliable, cost efficient and remarkably well built. Too well, in fact, at that...
No wonder that, even amidst the harsh times of the Great Depression, many prospects for a Standard Eight ended buying a Light Eight. Although it offered not as much luxury, there were enough features in this car that were used in Packard's bigger model, too. It was powered by the same 110 HP engine as the Standard Eight; it had a wheelbase that was only 1.75 in. (4,45 cm) shorter - and its lower weight brought more performance. And Packard Prestige at a much lesser price was included, too.
Packard learned its lesson quickly. There was no Light Eight for its 10th series (1933) line. But it renamed the Standard Eight as simply the Eight and integrated a four-model subseries that was patterned after the Light Eight. Although the shovel nose was gone, the quarter window treatment remained, and the differential that was introduced with the Light Eight was now found in all Eights. But this 1001 series was no longer available at such low prices: They started at $2,150 for the sedan and went up to $2,250 for the roadster.
Finally, it is safe to say that the Light Eight brought the experience to Packard to build and market an upper middle-class model. In this sense, it is the predecessor for its truly triumphal second try, the Packard One-Twenty
, that was introduced in 1935 and which would change the grand make forever.
Packard
Packard was an American luxury-type automobile marque built by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan, and later by the Studebaker-Packard Corporation of South Bend, Indiana...
Light Eight (series 900) was an automobile model produced by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
only during model year 1932. The Light Eight was planned as a new entry model. It competed in the upper middle-class with makes like LaSalle, the smaller Buick
Buick
Buick is a premium brand of General Motors . Buick models are sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, China, Taiwan, and Israel, with China being its largest market. Buick holds the distinction as the oldest active American make...
s and Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
s, and the top-of-the offerings from Studebaker
Studebaker
Studebaker Corporation was a United States wagon and automobile manufacturer based in South Bend, Indiana. Founded in 1852 and incorporated in 1868 under the name of the Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company, the company was originally a producer of wagons for farmers, miners, and the...
, Hudson
Hudson Motor Car Company
The Hudson Motor Car Company made Hudson and other brand automobiles in Detroit, Michigan, from 1909 to 1954. In 1954, Hudson merged with Nash-Kelvinator Corporation to form American Motors. The Hudson name was continued through the 1957 model year, after which it was dropped.- Company strategy...
, Nash
Nash Motors
Also see: Kelvinator and American Motors CorporationNash Motors was an automobile manufacturer based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in the United States from 1916 to 1938. From 1938 to 1954, Nash was the automotive division of the Nash-Kelvinator Corporation...
etc. The idea was to gain much needed additional business for Packard, as the grim of the depression was felt now industry-wide.
Packard did not use yearly model changes in these years. A new series appeared when management felt that there were enough running changes made. So, the Light Eight was introduced in January, 1932, together with the new V-12
V12 engine
A V12 engine is a V engine with 12 cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of six cylinders, usually but not always at a 60° angle to each other, with all 12 pistons driving a common crankshaft....
(called "Twin Six" in its first year to honor the pioneer Packard model built from 1915–23). Standard Eights and Super Eight
Packard Super Eight
Packard Super Eight was the name given to the larger of the two eight cylinder luxury automobiles produced by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan. It shared frames and some body types with the top model Packard Twelve...
s followed by June, 1932.
Technical
Construction of the Light Eight followed tried Packard tradition. It had a heavy frame with X-bracing and the usual rear wheel drive. Wheelbase was 127 3/4 in. (324,8 cm). It got a 320 c. i. (5232 ccm) straight eight engine with a compression ratio of 6:0, delivering 110 HP. It had a vacuum-plate clutch and an angle set hypoid differential. Battery and toolboxes were mounted on the fenders.The car was distinguished at first glance with a grille that had the traditional ox-yoke shape, but also with a then fashionable "shovel" nose. Closed Light Eights had a quarter window layout that was not shared by other Packards.
As the Light Eight used the same engine as the Standard Eight but was substantially lighter (4,115 lbs for the sedan vs. 4,570 lbs for the model 901 Standard Eight sedan), it was a very good performer of its day.
Body styles
The Light Eight series 900 was available in four body styles:Style # 553 4 door, 5 pass. Sedan
Style # 558 2 door, 2/4 pass. Stationary (rumble seat) Coupe
Style # 559 2 door, 2/4 pass. (rumble seat) Roadster Coupe
Style # 563 2 door, 5 pass. Sedan Coupe (sometimes referred as a "Victoria" Coupe)
Prices and Options
A Light Eight 4 door, 5 passenger Sedan cost $1,750.00, compared to $2,485 for a similar Standard Eight Sedan. This difference nearly bought a brand new Ford! The three other Light Eight body styles cost $1,795.00 each. So, it's no wonder that Packard managed to sell 6,785 units of its new model. In comparison, 7,669 units of the already well-introduced Standard Eight were sold during the shorter model run from 23 June 1932 until 5 January 1933. Problem was that Packard couldn't materialize a win out of the light Eight's offered prize as it could with the Standard Eight.Options for the Light Eight included Dual sided or rear mounted spare wheels, sidemount cover(s), cigar lighter, a right-hand tail-light, luggage rack, full rear bumper and fender park lights, the ladder for $65.00.
Market Position
The Light Eight was intended as Packard's price leader at the entry level of the luxury car market. As such, the package worked. But it failed its main reason for existence: To lure away buyers from its rivals. Instead, it hurt sales of Packard's volume line, the Standard Eight.Nevertheless, the Light Eight was a very good car, with stylish lines, very good performance, and, as always with Packard, reliable, cost efficient and remarkably well built. Too well, in fact, at that...
No wonder that, even amidst the harsh times of the Great Depression, many prospects for a Standard Eight ended buying a Light Eight. Although it offered not as much luxury, there were enough features in this car that were used in Packard's bigger model, too. It was powered by the same 110 HP engine as the Standard Eight; it had a wheelbase that was only 1.75 in. (4,45 cm) shorter - and its lower weight brought more performance. And Packard Prestige at a much lesser price was included, too.
Packard learned its lesson quickly. There was no Light Eight for its 10th series (1933) line. But it renamed the Standard Eight as simply the Eight and integrated a four-model subseries that was patterned after the Light Eight. Although the shovel nose was gone, the quarter window treatment remained, and the differential that was introduced with the Light Eight was now found in all Eights. But this 1001 series was no longer available at such low prices: They started at $2,150 for the sedan and went up to $2,250 for the roadster.
Finally, it is safe to say that the Light Eight brought the experience to Packard to build and market an upper middle-class model. In this sense, it is the predecessor for its truly triumphal second try, the Packard One-Twenty
Packard One-Twenty
The Packard One-Twenty was an automobile produced by the Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit, Michigan from 1935 to 1937 and from 1939 through the 1941 model years...
, that was introduced in 1935 and which would change the grand make forever.
Sources
- Kimes, Beverly Rae, editor: Packard: A History of the Motor Car and the Company. Automobile Quarterly Publications, ISBN 0-915038-11-0
- Kimes, Beverly R. (editor), Clark, Henry A.: The Standard Catalog of American Cars 1805-1945. Krause Publications (1985), ISBN 0-87341-045-9
External links
- The Packard Club (go to "encyclopedia" and then click 1932 button)
- Packard Information on 1932 Light Eight