Series 22. 135 bhp, 288 cu. in. L-head inline eight-cylinder engine, three-speed manual transmission with overdrive and Electromatic clutch, independent coil spring front suspension, live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs, and four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes. Wheelbase: 120 in.

• Elegant wood-bodied station sedan

• Rare functioning overdrive and Electromatic clutch

• Frame-up restoration

For 1948, Packard’s new 22nd Series used a wider and lower adaptation of the sleek Clipper lines, ruling out a traditional station wagon body. Instead, Packard took four-door, six-passenger sedans off the production line, and the body supplier, Briggs Manufacturing Company, changed the roofline to incorporate a liftgate and tailgate. Using ash and maple, Briggs converted the sedan into a full station wagon, with steel supports at the B-posts and D-posts. It was also the most expensive of the short-wheelbase Packards, even the Super Eight models, selling for $3,424. Production reached fewer than 3,900 in slightly more than two years, most of them built in 1948.

Painted in the original Cavalier Maroon with completely restored wood, this stylish 1948 Packard Station Sedan has undergone an extensive cosmetic and mechanical restoration. The exterior birch framing was professionally restored and refinished by a specialist in New Zealand, while the car was there for a 1,200 kilometer tour of the South Island. The interior ash was replaced by the well-known Antique Auto Restorations, of Seaside, California. From its hood ornament to the rear bumperettes, the chrome is free of any serious blemishes and it exhibits an excellent sheen.

All aspects of the drivetrain were fully serviced and rebuilt where necessary, for trouble-free motoring. The Packard straight eight runs smoothly, and the three-speed transmission shifts quietly and easily. The Electromatic clutch enables shifting between second and third gears without the clutch, and the overdrive enables easy cruising for highway travel. The brakes are all new, the radio and heater are functional, and the entire interior is new and authentic. The car took second in its category at the Great Autos of Yesteryear Concours in California earlier this year. It is ready for show, tour, or simply for a fun afternoon on the road.