1941 Packard Super 8 180 news, pictures, and information

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Convertible Limousine Rollson
Coachwork: Rollson

This one-off design by Rollson was ordered by E. Parmalee Prentiss of Pocantico Hills, New York, best known as the husband of the daughter of John D. Rockefeller. As on all of the cars owned by Prentiss, no manufacturer's badging was permitted. Amazingly, this car has never been restored, maintained by the Rockefeller and The Harrah Collections before its current careful owner.

Touring Sedan

This is the 226th of 930 four-door Touring Sedans built by Packards in 1941. It had a base price of $2,912, exclusive of options, when a Ford Deluxe sedan had a base price of $800. There were 110 options available, and the most expensive was air conditioning, at $1,085. The compressor had no clutch, so the drive belt had to be removed to turn it off. This example was purchased very early by the Harrah Auto Collection in Reno because it was one of the first vehicles to have air conditioning in this country. At the Harrah auction in 1981, this car was sold to a collector who wanted to dismantle it for parts for his 1941 Packard LeBaron Sedan. He eventually decided that it was too good to dismantle, and sold it to the current owner in 1999. Restoration was completed in 2007. It still has the Harrah Museum nomenclature plate on the bumper bracket.

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All-Weather Cabriolet
Coachwork: Rollson

This 1941 Packard All Weather (AW) Cabriolet is the only example of this motor car known to exist. The exact number produced is unknown.

This 4,075 pound car, riding on a 138-inch wheelbase, is powered by a 356 cubic-inch inline-eight producing 160 horsepower. New, this car sold for $4,695, while a Packard standard 4-door sedan sold for $1,076. This car was a definite part of the smart, urban scene as top hats and sequins, and was the favorite formal transportation of a discriminating society.

The car has recently completed a three-year restoration.

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Convertible Victoria
Coachwork: Bohman & Schwartz

This Bohman & Schwartz Convertible Victoria is a stunning design that is somewhat reminiscent of the Packard Darrin Victoria, yet it is distinctive in many ways. The V-windshield has a strikingly severe rake to it, while the trailing edge of the front fender extends gracefully into the door instead of ending before the door. A 10-inch longer wheelbase than the Darrin Victoria, a lack of running boards and the bold chrome spear on the body side combine to make a beautiful, long, low, truly elegant automobile of distinction.

This car was purchased new in California by the auto of racing personality Phil Hill. Phil later acquired the car and used it in the 1950s to tow his Ferrari to races up and down the West Coast. It is generally accepted that this is one of two surviving Bohman & Schwartz Convertible Victorias, of at least three originally built.

The Packard One Eighty was first introduced in 1940 and was Packard's new top-of-the-line vehicle. It served as a replacement for the company's V12 powered vehicle. The Packard 180 was given a eight-cylinder 356 cubic-inch engine that produced an astonishing 160 horsepower. Packard proudly claimed that it was the most powerful eight cylinder engine on the market.

Though most of the other series, the 110, 120, 160, and 180, were similar in body styling in 1940, the 180 was segregated by its exquisite interior detailing, and lush carpets and fabrics. Options included a heater/defroster, air conditioning, radio, fender skirts, backup lights and more.

Styling changed only slightly during its production lifespan, lasting until 1942 when World War II brought an end to civilian automobile production. Famous coachbuilders, such as Darrin and LeBaron were given the opportunity to build their interpretation of the automobile on this accommodating chassis. These were constructed in limited numbers and built to suite the individual customers needs, desires, and specifications.

Standard on the 180 Series were power windows, overdrive, and deluxe interior appointments. The 180 Series was powered by a 356-cubic inch straight-eight, with 160 hp, and rode on a 138-inch wheelbase.

1941 Packard models
Packard 110 Deluxe
Packard 110 Series 1900
Packard 120
Packard Clipper
Packard Custom Super 8 One-Eighty Series 1908
Packard Super 8 160
Packard Super 8 180 Darrin
Packard Super 8 180 Series LeBaron