1929 Packard 645 Deluxe Eight

Among the list of Packard's successes was the 'Twin Six' V12 engine that was produced from 1916 through 1923. A year later, the Twin Six was replaced by an inline eight-cylinder that quickly gained a reputation for its near-silent operation and smoothness.

Packard replaced the former Six with the Standard Eight available on two slightly longer wheelbase lengths, along with the Custom Eight and Deluxe Eight. The 640 Custom Eight and 645 Deluxe Eight lines shared the same 385 cubic-inch inline eight-cylinder engine which was the company's most powerful with the exception of the short-lived 626 Speedster.

The Packard 645 Deluxe Eight was introduced early in 1929, prior to the stock market crash, and served as the company's top-of-the-line car. It was given a 145.5-inch wheelbase chassis that was specifically designed for the custom and semi-custom bodies of that time. Power was from a nine-main-bearing engine offering 120 horsepower. The suspension was comprised of a shock-absorbed 'loose trunnion' system that was similar to those found on modern-day automobiles.

Packard offered plenty of body styles created by coachbuilders such as Dietrich, Fleetwood, Murphy, LeBaron, and Rollston. Total series production reached 54,000 units with just 2,061 of those being Deluxe Eights.

In comparison to the prior year's models, the coolant temperature gauge was moved from the radiator filler cap to a gauge located on the dashboard. An automatic cylinder oiler was also added to help prevent unnecessary wear caused by dry startups. Additional interior room was achieved by moving the shift lever from the top of the transmission casing to the bell housing.

Mechanical Specification
The 1929 Packard Model 645 had a 145-inch wheelbase, a semi-elliptic leaf spring suspension, and four-wheel drum brakes. The L-head straight-eight engine had a cast iron block, mechancial valve lifters, nine main bearings, a Packard carburetor, a 384.8 cubic-inch displacement, and delivered 105 horsepower at 3,200 RPM.

Body Styles
Body styles included a phaeton, a seven-passenger tourer, and a roadster priced at $4,585, a sport phaeton ($4935), a rumble seat coupe ($5385) and a coupe ($5735). The sedan and club sedan listed at $5,785, and the limousine was nearly $6,000.

by Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2019