The Kimes book, which I’ve also studied before coming here with this question, gives some additional information without actually answering how to differentiate between the two models. I’ll quote at length here as I think it includes clues but by my read no clear answers:
Quote:
“When the 443 debuted it was with the two fender-mounted spares as regular equipment but without provisions for optional rear-mounted spares. Requests for the latter must have been numerous, as an additional catalogue in March 1928 introduced the 443 “Standard Models” with them*….Interior trim was simpler, body color selections were limited to “a broad selections of beautiful combinations” - but not as broad as the other 443’s. As Alvan McCauley wrote his stockholders, the new Packards were ‘standard in design and therefore lower in cost.’”
Kimes also details lower prices for the standard models (with significant rolling discounts as the model year progressed).
While informative none of it really gets to the nub of my question of how to differentiate between the two models, if that is even possible.
* It’s unclear to me on this point whether Kimes is saying that the rear mounted spares were only optional, or standard, on the standard models. I think the more plausible read is that rear mounted spares were optional on standard 8 443s but unavailable on Custom 8s.
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