- Seller: William C (Contact)
- Location: Alto, Texas
- Mileage: 02707 Shown
- Chassis #: PAC4731531
- Title Status: Clean
- Engine: 384 cui Inline-8
- Transmission: 4-Speed Manual
One of the “Three P’s” of luxury car manufacture, Packard (along with Pierce-Arrow and Peerless) was best described in one of the big hardcover collectible car books of my youth as a locomotive. Indeed, this 1931 (or, more accurately to Packard fans, Eighth Series) Model 840 DeLuxe Sedan sat on an imposing 140.5-inch wheelbase, and with a big 384-cubic-inch straight eight up front, you can begin to understand the metaphor. This Packard is one of 2,035 Model 840s built, and one of as few as 304 five-passenger sedans; therefore, like most Classic-era Packards, it’s not something you’ll find in your neighbor’s driveway. The seller from Alto, Texas, says that it’s an older restoration that still “presents well,” and it’s now being offered as a Barn Finds Auction.
One could spend a lifetime studying Packards before getting to know their various nuances. As I mentioned, Packard didn’t make changes at clean model year breaks, but instead identified their cars by series. For example, according to The Packard Story by Robert E. Turnquist, the Eighth Series was introduced on August 14, 1930 and replaced by the Ninth Series on June 17, 1931 (although some Eighth Series cars were apparently produced through the 23rd). The model number, 840, tells us that it’s an Eighth Series car (because it begins with an “8”), and the vehicle number on the data plate says “473 15.” This means that it is the 15th car produced in the “473” bodystyle, a five-passenger sedan. The late Mr. Turnquist estimated that Packard made 304 Deluxe Five-Passenger Sedans in this series. (Although most of my materials, including Packard’s 1931 Fact Book, say that “Custom” was discontinued as a model name for the Eighth Series and “DeLuxe” used in its place, The Packard Story still labels them “Customs.”)
The engine is the aforementioned 384-cubic-inch straight eight, which enjoyed a redesigned block with better intake and exhaust breathing, along with new intake and exhaust manifolds: The result was 120 horsepower at 3200 rpm. In this era of undersquare engines, the bore was 3.5 inches and the stroke a long-armed 5 inches. Surprisingly, in this era of three-speed transmissions, Packard’s manual gearbox had four. The Deluxe and Individual Custom Packards had 7.00×19 tires as standard, and a choice of either a 4.38:1 or 4.69:1 rear axle ratio. The seller says that this car has new electric fuel pumps, a new starter, and a “starter solenoid…to ease in starting.”
Packards of the prewar era were not built like cars of today. According to the Packard fact book for Deluxe Eight Cars, their bodies still used plenty of “ash, birch, maple, oak, and laminated fir,” which was bent to create the “correct contours” and dried in kilns for “twenty-four hours to insure their holding shape.” The instrument panel shown here has a “walnut rubbed finish with a nickel bead at the lower edge,” and the “instruments…are grouped in a pleasing arrangement at the center.” The seller mentioned that this Packard has an older restoration, but it still looks nice, and he’s included a nice group of pictures below so you can see the Packard’s undercarriage and luxurious interior. They also note that the fuel gauge isn’t functioning and the horn is currently not mounted.
There’s truly nothing like a big, graceful prewar American Classic (with a capital “C” in this case), and this Packard was built to last by craftsmen who took pride in their work. It was one of America’s best, and you can bid on it now on Barn Finds Auctions.
Bid On This Auction
djvthewriter bid $12,786.00 2025-08-03 11:11:28
Anders bid $10,400.00 2025-07-31 11:36:36- djvthewriter bid $9,900.00 2025-07-31 00:58:54
PMD1965 bid $9,300.00 2025-07-30 10:12:44- djvthewriter bid $5,680.00 2025-07-30 08:47:25
What a beautiful vehicle! It will bring more than most of us can afford, but sadly, not nearly what it’s worth.
It’ll make a great pattern for a Packard print down the road. But
as far as finding a new owner for this beautiful car, good luck. The
folks that bought these cars in the ’50s and ’60s are dying off fast leaving their survivors a car that they don’t know how to drive
or maintain or, not even want. If you put some young kid behind the wheel of this car, I can tell you, no, almost guarantee that they’ll look at you and say “What the hell is this??? . “You want me to drive this effin thing? No way in hell Pops!! No way in hell!”. Beautiful Packard. Just wish that I was young enough to enjoy it.
I’ve been sayin this for years Ken….
Elegance on wheels.
Do you want to find another one? LOL my Dad was the caretaker for my Uncle’s 1929 Packard, virtually identical to this one, and it came with an extra 12-cyl engine, to boot!
He kept it stored in our barn since around 1967 or so. Located in upstate NY about 25 miles from Albany. When he died in 1984 it was moved up the road to another metal storage building (a large one owned by a neighbor who stored his own cars and worked on antique autos etc.) and there it has sat ever since.
Wooden wheels were always fascinating to me, and as kids we would play inside and pretend to be gangsters…
Speaking of, there were bullet holes in the sides, and were there back when my Uncle bought it in the early 60’s … we always fantasized that it had been in some Al Capone-style shootout…
Anyway, I don’t know if the neighbor friend of my Dad’s is still alive, he’s be around 80-85 now, but I know his wife was alive at least 6 years ago when I saw her over Xmas.
There hasn’t been a week gone by that I haven’t thought of that car. I never heard, as years went by, of anyone moving it or the guy selling it off .. My Uncle passed away in the 2000’s but his kids, my cousins, never mentioned pursuing it. It was never restored and we never saw it run, so there’s a lot of $$$ that would have been necessary which they didn’t have but in the years following, who knows …
When my Dad died i was 18 and my brother 16 and neither of us had any money or ways or means to do anything about it other than watch the property and our childhoods disappear in the rear-view mirror of life. He died in probate and everything got sold off including our house so we went on but that ’29 Packard stayed behind…
I have fantasized for years about having the money and wherewithall to restore it but of course life happens and that never did… I’m not even sure legally who owns it but NYS is a tricky place. If it is still there I’m sure the neighbor or his heirs or wife may have some sort of claim. He never charged anything for storing it… Anyway … thanks for letting me relive some things… not a week goes by the last 40+ years since he died I don’t think of that car.
Go look!
One may be able to park it and rent as a tiny house/museum…
that engine runs smooth and quiet!
Big. Everything is Big. As soon as I saw the first photo I thought that you could bolt a big blade on the front and start doing the some land clearing instead of using a D model Cat. However, no doubt a beautiful car that must go to a good custodian to pass it on to the next owner anon.
Four items of interest that someone might comment on. (1) Note the overflow tube from what appears to be from the water pump leading to a glass jar tucked down at the bottom of the radiator. (2) I am surprised at the number of white coloured knobs including the gear stick. I expected black but there are so many white ones they must be original and reproducing Ivory material. (3) Is the large white handle to the left of the steering wheel a lever to prime the vacuum tank or for a full vehicle lubrication system. (4) There appears to be a tank on top of the inlet manifold above the carburettor. What is its purpose?
The white handle is for a spotlight. The intake tank is to heat in intake fuel( I think).
I think we can be a little too pessimistic about the generations that followed us. There are plenty of kids who would get behind the wheel of this and say, “bruh, what the hell is this? It’s awesome! You’ve GOT to show me how to drive this!” My 26 y.o. son has never owned an automatic and my 18 y.o. daughter did her driver’s test behind a clutch pedal. I’m not sure she would be enthusiastic about a car like this, but I know my son would along with a lot of his friends. We have an annual concours on Easter Sunday and the kids just drool over the prewar cars.
I want it so bad, and could afford it, but I really don’t need it. I will regret not buying it, but if I bought it I would regret buying it. Does anyone want an 88 Alfa Romeo Milano (type 75 in Europe), verde – 3 liter, in beautiful condition. I hardly ever drive it.
Dear Seller, Can one drive the car for let’s say 100 miles without too many issues? Starter okay? Any brakes? Steering okay? I don’t need promises or guarantees. Just your opinion as you know a lot more than we.
I am used to drive and handle old cars including 1917 & 1924 Model T, 1914 Renault and many others. Thank you.
I have driven the car for about 150 miles without any problems.