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This 1940 Packard 160 Super Eight Convertible Sedan is a left-hand drive vehicle with a yellow exterior and a green interior. It is the Ex-Billy Wilder, Academy Award-winning screenwriter, director and producer, vehicle. It is powered by a Packard L-head, 356 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine that produces 160 horsepower. It is equipped with a three-speed selective synchromesh transmission with column-mounted gearshift controls. Braking is provided by the four-wheel hydraulic drums.
Due to the economic turmoil of the early 1930's many manufacturers struggled financially during this period. One of the most devastated areas was the luxury car segment as the pool of potential buyers dwindled even further causing competition to rise quickly. This was true for Packard who saw their Junior Series of cars grow in popularity while their Senior Series suffered. By the start of the 1940's the company was under the direction of George Christopher who continued to further distinguish the Junior and Senior series. The entry level Packard's cost around $700 while the top-of-line offerings would set the buyer back $6000. This was a small fortune at the time and a very expensive price that only few could afford. The top-of-the-line vehicles were the 180 Series with coachwork done by custom coachbuilders. Later, the Seniors were renamed to the Super Eight 160 and the Custom Super Eight 180. They were outfitted with the new 160 horsepower engine which was adequate enough to keep these rolling luxury machines moving along at a comfortable pace on the road ways.
The Series were distinguished by a number of visual items such as the hubcaps and hood louvers. The One-Sixty also featured the 'flying lady' mascot while the One-Eighty carried the cormorant.
The example shown was auctioned at the 2006 Christies Auction in Monterey California at the Monterey Jet Center where it was expected to fetch between $100000-$120000. At the conclusion of the bidding, it had found a new owner at the price of $111625.
Mr. Wilder became the first owner of this car. His purpose was to chauffeur Ginger Rogers and her mother to an from the set where Ginger was at the time cast in the film, 'The Major and the Minor.' The film was being directed by Billy Wilder. After the film, Mr. Wilder retained the vehicle and remained with him at Paramount Studios as a symbol of Hollywood's Golden Age. In 1946 it was traded to a mechanic for a Cadillac. The new owner kept the car until his death in the 1970s. The car was then sold to a collector who resided in New Jersey. The car was kept in storage for twenty years.
The car received a restoration and was awarded a Senior CCCA Award. The car was purchased by its next owner in 2005 and was transported to its new home on the West Coast. A minor restoration was undertaken and then shown at the Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance where it was awarded a 'Best in Class'.
Due to the economic turmoil of the early 1930's many manufacturers struggled financially during this period. One of the most devastated areas was the luxury car segment as the pool of potential buyers dwindled even further causing competition to rise quickly. This was true for Packard who saw their Junior Series of cars grow in popularity while their Senior Series suffered. By the start of the 1940's the company was under the direction of George Christopher who continued to further distinguish the Junior and Senior series. The entry level Packard's cost around $700 while the top-of-line offerings would set the buyer back $6000. This was a small fortune at the time and a very expensive price that only few could afford. The top-of-the-line vehicles were the 180 Series with coachwork done by custom coachbuilders. Later, the Seniors were renamed to the Super Eight 160 and the Custom Super Eight 180. They were outfitted with the new 160 horsepower engine which was adequate enough to keep these rolling luxury machines moving along at a comfortable pace on the road ways.
The Series were distinguished by a number of visual items such as the hubcaps and hood louvers. The One-Sixty also featured the 'flying lady' mascot while the One-Eighty carried the cormorant.
The example shown was auctioned at the 2006 Christies Auction in Monterey California at the Monterey Jet Center where it was expected to fetch between $100000-$120000. At the conclusion of the bidding, it had found a new owner at the price of $111625.
Mr. Wilder became the first owner of this car. His purpose was to chauffeur Ginger Rogers and her mother to an from the set where Ginger was at the time cast in the film, 'The Major and the Minor.' The film was being directed by Billy Wilder. After the film, Mr. Wilder retained the vehicle and remained with him at Paramount Studios as a symbol of Hollywood's Golden Age. In 1946 it was traded to a mechanic for a Cadillac. The new owner kept the car until his death in the 1970s. The car was then sold to a collector who resided in New Jersey. The car was kept in storage for twenty years.
The car received a restoration and was awarded a Senior CCCA Award. The car was purchased by its next owner in 2005 and was transported to its new home on the West Coast. A minor restoration was undertaken and then shown at the Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance where it was awarded a 'Best in Class'.
This originally complete car was a, no expense spared, 'frame off' restoration in 2002 on the East Coast. Because of paint materials problem, which showed shortly after restoration, the car was disassembled again, striped to bare metal and repainted in May of 2005 on the West Coast. The under side as well as all mechanics is restored to perfection. Extra features to make the car perform well touring, some of which are, radial tires, duel 6V batteries, water over flow tank, back up electric fuel pump, electronic points inside the distributor and factory Packard overdrive.
This car was shown for one season on the East Coast and won first in class twice to become a Senior CCA winner. Since being on the West Coast it has won Best in Class at the 2006 Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance.
This car was shown for one season on the East Coast and won first in class twice to become a Senior CCA winner. Since being on the West Coast it has won Best in Class at the 2006 Hillsborough Concours d'Elegance.
| Photos grouped by event | |
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Kruse International at Hershey, PA |
 Christie's at The Monterey Jet Center |
1940 Packard Super 8 160 Model 1803 |
|
| Year | 1940 |
| Make | Packard |
| Model | Super 8 160 Model 1803 |
| Engine Location | Front |
| Drive Type | Rear Wheel |
| Weight | 4165 lbs | 1889.2 kg |
| Combined MPG | 0.00 |
| Chassis / Engine Numbers Shown | |
| Chassis Number | 13772130 |
| Engine | |
| Engine Configuration | I |
| L-Head | |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Engine | Chrysler |
| Aspiration/Induction | Normal |
| Displacement | 356.00 CU IN. | 5834.8 cc. | 5.8 L. |
| Valves | 16 valves. 2 valves per cylinder. |
| Valvetrain | SV |
| Horsepower | 160.00 BHP (117.8 KW) @ 3600.00 RPM |
| HP to Weight Ratio | 26.0 LB / HP (Vehicles with similar ratio) |
| HP / Liter | 27.6 BHP / Liter |
| Compression Ratio | 7.00:1 |
| Main Bearings | 9 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline - Petrol |
| Vehicles with similar horsepower and weight | |
| Standard Transmission | |
| Gears | 3 |
| Transmission | Selective Sliding |
| Synchromesh. Column-mounted | |
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| Kruse International at Hershey, PA |
| Christie's at The Monterey Jet Center |
| Additional Resources and Links |
| Additional Info: Exceptional Motor Cars Christies, Monterey Jet Center |
| Christie's at The Monterey Jet Center Official Website |
| Kruse International Official Website |
| 1940 Packard models |
| 110 |
| 120 |
| Custom 8 180 Darrin Series 1806 |
| Custom Super 8 180 |
| Super 8 160 |
| Super 8 180 |
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Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com
Automobile information, history, and statistics from concept to production. | © 1998-2008 Conceptcarz.com