Body Style 1270

Car no. 1270-2669

Engine no. B504710

Series 1705. 320-cid, 130-hp inline L-head eight-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission, coil spring independent front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 148-inches.

Packard celebrated 1939 with its Seventeenth Series. A mild update on the previous year, new features included a column-mounted shifter, revised hood louvers and new taillights.

An older restoration, this Packard Super Eight still exhibits an imposing presence. The black paint has a deep shine, the contours have no flaws and the doors shut well. The brightwork shows some age, but will improve with detailing. The engine compartment is generally clean, though not detailed, and the undercarriage can be described as solid but unrestored.

The interior, however, has suffered from long term storage, with insect and rodent damage particularly to the headliner. It has jump seats for seven-passenger capacity and a division partition with crank-up window, but really needs a new interior if not a complete restoration. The plastic steering wheel exhibits numerous cracks.

Other features include a radio with hidden running board-mounted antenna, dual sidemounts, and Packard-logo Trippe driving lights. Delivered May 4, 1939 by the Earle C. Anthony agency in San Francisco, it is a Full Classic recognized by the Classic Car Club of America, and eligible for all meets and CARavan tours.