Re: 1931 826 value

Posted by Greenfield On 2022/4/2 9:25:36

I have a 31 826 in really great shape and have made some observations about this exact model:

1. Realize that it was the poor-man's Packard when new. It was the entry level Packard and smallest wheelbase model in 1931. It is very base when compared to the 840/845 models. You can look up the stats on this forum, but around 6k 826's were built, 6k 833's were built and 3k 840/845's were built in 1931.
2. I've read that in 1931 Packard tried to upend their competition by releasing the 1932 model year early. But this led to an inventory surplus of 31 models that needed to be sold at firesale prices, because who'd want a 31 when you could have a 32?
3. Interestingly though, very few 826's survived today. I see many more of the big Packards than I do of the 826's because car society values the big Packards more. I think the registry has a total of 7 or 8 826's listed.
4. Despite it being rare, I don't think this translates to higher values. Indeed I think the opposite might be true -- if the car isn't complete, it'll be very difficult to find any replacement parts which is a detriment to values. If it's not complete, think long and hard about it. I went to Hershey last year, and I don't think I saw any parts for it, at all.
5. My dream car is a 840 sedan, but my budget will likely never allow me to purchase. As the song goes " If you can't be with the one you love, love the one your with".
6. Having said all this, I would say a fair price for a 826 in good/great shape would be $35 to $45k; anything more I'd have understand why the premium.