Re: What are the major differences between 1939 Senior Packards and the 120?

Posted by Peter Hartmann On 2008/10/29 20:10:58

best way for you folks to understand this question is look at a Packard Parts Book.

The only REAL "Senior" in 1939 was the Twelve. In 1939, as we all know, Packard stuffed the 1924 design "baby eight" or "Standard Eight" into what was essentially a 120, and CALLED it a "Super Eight". And then trimmed it with some left-over "Senior Division" fittings.

A look at a Packard Parts Book will confirm NO parts (well, that isnt ENTIRELY true - door handles, dome lights, and I believe dome light switches will interchange) NO PARTS of the '39 Twelves will fit anything else in Packard's 1939 product line up.

It is VERY important for some people who are jealous of the Twelves, to want to say that there were similarities .

This WAS true in prior year production, when the Twelves shared the same exterior sheet metal with the other "Senior" products.

In response to your question, in 1939, again. NOTHING interchanges, as only the Twelve was the remaining "REAL" Senior Packard. If we are going to be HONEST, "Senior" Packard production ended in the summer of 1939, when the entire factory was converted over to the production of the much lighter "120" style cars. The separate production facilities for the "REAL "Senior Divison" were merged into the production of lower priced Packard products.

If you look up in this forum's product identification charts for, for 1938, for example, you will see that the 1938 Super Eight and Twelve are described as "shared the same chassis".

Of course anyone actually familiar with the technology of the REAL Packard V-12 and the REAL Packard Standard Eight (the 1937-'39 "Super" eights were in fact STANDARD EIGHTS) knows the much larger and more powerful engine, the "REAL" Super Eight was discontinued for 1937 production.

In 1939 (as well as '37-38), your Packard Parts book will show NO parts of the so called "Super Eight" running gear will interchange with the "big" Packards. Not so much as a BOLT in the suspension, wheels, bearings, frame, etc, will interchange between the two product lines. Brake drums, wheels, axles, bearings, suspension parts - all bigger and heavier on the 12's to reflect the greater weight and power.

Now - to put this all in perspective, let's remember that dramatic improvements in technology - rubber engine mounts, higher octane fuels giving us the ability to have higher compression motors, all made the big "Senior" cars obsolete. I would be the first to admit a "356" Packard (1940-42 "160/180 series) Super & Custom Clippers, up thru '49) are all around a very nice driving experience, and will "blow the doors" off anything in their price range. They sold well, so much better than the old "Senior Divison" cars did, for the simple and obvious reason they were "better" in that they were "up-to-date".

And let's also remember that Packard's entering the low-middle class price line with DAMN good cars for the money, kept the doors open.

So let's remember the bottom line - Sad to say the sales figures on BOTH the 1939 "Super Eight" and its bigger cousin the V-12, show us these products were not capable of supporting the Packard Motor Car Company.