Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Hey, I apologize if this is answered elsewhere on the site, but I spent a few hours searching here and elsewhere and haven’t been able to find an answer.

Anyway I was fortunate enough to recently acquire a beautiful 443 runabout (registered here:packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/registry/index.php?Action=view&ID=3842), and the seller said this was a Custom 8. For all my looking, though, I cannot figure how to verify whether it’s a Custom 8 443 or a Standard 8 443. My understanding is that the Custom 8 was finished in nicer trim and had some other more upscale details, but does anybody have a way I can identify for sure?

Thanks again. I will no doubt try your collective patience in the future with similarly dumb questions as I try to figure out how to take properly care of this beautiful piece of history.

Base on the Registry Entry its lidted as a Body Model 312, which is a Custom Eight Runabout.

If you put 312 into the Model Info page, it will give you the details.

Thanks Big Kev, I put 312 as a guess because I believe it to be a custom 8 based on what the previous owner told me (and I had to enter something). But I don’t really know how or where to look on the car to confirm that. Looking at the model info page the 312 and 382 seem to share all basic specs.

Spencer,
for including your '28 443 Custom Eight Runabout in the Packard Vehicle Registry.

If, perchance you need to, you can always edit the info in your Registry entry.

I guess I'm in line to learn something new. I thought all 443s were Custom Eights.

Maybe you could put some pics up of your new pride & joy?

Well I’m not sure if any of these will be helpful for answering my original question but I don’t mind showing it off a little

Attach file:

---

  4C381438-313F-456E-A490-DA9825E09B5F.jpeg (367.28 KB)


  9DA6ADAA-BAD0-4179-AFA1-3BA68F1BD271.jpeg (620.74 KB)


  A7F623B5-7AA0-4323-A1C7-227DB805B497.jpeg (374.34 KB)

What are the upper pair of lights in the front called?

Woodlights but otherwise I know little about them. No upper and lower - those are the headlights with the lower ones being accessory running lights.

The Woodlite was patented by, logically enough, Mr. Wood. They claimed a special reflector shape to project a beam giving superior illumination. I've only heard that they were equal to or worse than conventional lights. But they look really cool.