Packard’s Ninth Series line for 1932 comprised a curious mix. At the bottom was a new lower-priced car, Light Eight, Model 900. Not much smaller than other Packards (just two inches shorter than the Standard Eight), it was indeed lighter, tipping the scales at 3,930 to 4,115 pounds, compared to the larger car’s 4,317 to 4,735 pounds. It sold for $1,750 to $1,795, a good $700 less than comparable Standard Eight body styles. At the upper end, the company brought back the Twin Six, a reprise of the 1916–1922 flagship, but with a wholly new engine designed by Cornelius Van Ranst, whose credits included the Cord L-29. Offered with no fewer than 21 body styles, it was priced from $3,745 to $7,950.

Between those two extremes lay the “traditional” Packard territory, the Standard Eight, on wheelbases of 129.5 and 136.5 inches and selling for $2,485 to $3,450, and the Deluxe Eight, which used the chassis from the Twin Six and priced from $3,690 to $4,285. Of these, the more popular was the Standard Eight that, at 7,659 cars, furnished the great majority of Packard sales.

Deluxe Eight customers had the greatest choice of body styles: no fewer than 27, of which 14 were catalogue customs, five from Dietrich and the others built in Packard’s own custom shops. Standard Eight buyers, however, were not starved for choice, with 13 factory bodies available. New for the year was a snug convertible coupe with roll-up side windows, body style 509, that Packard called “Coupe Roadster.” For those who preferred wind in their hair, it also had a rumble seat.

Believed to have been delivered new on 31 August 1932 by Packard’s factory dealership on Park Avenue in New York City, this handsome Coupe Roadster was restored about 1980, and received an AACA National First Prize the following year. It was subsequently afforded AACA Senior status. Although several decades old, the restoration still presents well, although close inspection shows some aging of both paint and brightwork. The medium red of the body is nicely contrasted by darker red on moldings and fenders, and a matching red leather interior shows only moderate use, with no scuffing, cracks, or tears. The body, however, shows some signs of more recent touch-up. Dual side-mount spares and a rear-mounted trunk are covered to match the top, all of which are in unblemished tan canvas with red piping.

The engine compartment and undercarriage are clean and nicely detailed, the former with correct factory colors and the latter matching the red body. Both show signs of use and signal that the car has been well maintained. The mileage shown, less than 75,000, is believed correct.

The Coupe Roadster body on the 136-inch Standard Eight chassis exhibits some of the nicest proportions of Full Classic Packards in the 1930s. This car is a very nice example.