Re: Packard Super 8 1937

Posted by burkewhb1 On 2016/2/17 19:20:56

I have noticed you refer to your 1937 Packard as a "Super 8
120". A 1937 Packard Super 8 was a huge car, of 127, 134, or
139 inch wheelbase. It had a 320 Cu. in. straight 8 engine
with 135 horsepower. It was, in price, the next Packard down
from the 12, which had the big 473 cu. in 175 HP V12 engine. A Packard 120 was a 120 inch wheelbase car with a 282 cu. in. straight8 engine developing 120 hp. It was first built by Packard in 1935 for the less wealthy middle class buyer, and actually saved Packard from going under in the great depression. The Packard 120 was still every inch a Packard and had a top speed in the neighborhood of 100 mph, whereas the much heavier Super Eight models might reach 85 mph, depending on the body style.

From looking at the pictures of the cars participating in the
2015 Sahara Rally, I can see that your car is definitely
a Super Eight sedan (127" wheelbase), not a 120. Therefore
you own a much more valuable car, although with its excessive
weight (well over 4000 pounds), you might have more difficulties traveling over all those bad roads.

Good luck in the 2016 Peking to Paris Motor Challenge!