Early '48 Super 8 Victoria Engine Designation

Posted by Dennis On 2013/11/16 16:52:20

Recently purchased a beautiful '48 Packard Super Eight Victoria. It had been sitting in a garage for 6 or more years after the last owner passed. I bought it from his wife, and got her running. The previous owner restored the car in 2000, with new top, interior, and Cavalier Maroon paint. Plus various mechanical things such as the radiator, brake lines, harness, top and window cylinders, etc. The list goes on.

I called the owner before him, who said he purchased the car in the late 80's from Andy Rosen, near Philly. I contacted Andy and he recalled he car when he purchased it in 1980 from a Don Rook, an avid Packard and Chrysler 300 collector.

It seems that the car has a 288 motor in her. I thought maybe it was just the heads, but the block is in the 200,000 series. It is a G motor and it is painted Packard Green. I have pics of the car from years back, and it does show a dealer added back-up light. The light is gone, but the switch is still on the R-9 trans...so I believe the trans to be original. This is a very early car, with slide vent controls...#2653 ...or the 653 Super 8 conv built. It has an early glove box door with no lock, much like the Custom 8 door, before they made them different. (according to Stuart from Kanter).

After speaking to Andy Rosen, he mentioned that when he got the car from Don Rook in 1980, it was Brown, and all original and untouched. He took it to the Nationals, and a very knowledgeable older Packard enthusiast came up to him and said, "You have an unusual car here. it's a very early car with many Deluxe Eight features. Such as the hubcaps, trim, etc. It is one of the first convertibles Packard built and released that year..." Andy Rosen recalls that it had the 288 motor in it at the time. I looked up Don Rok on Google, and he passed away, but was known for his authentic and unusual cars, at one time owning 49 Packards.

The car has 95k miles on it and the motor appears to have never been rebuilt. is it possible that this motor cam in this car?????

Thanks,
Dennis