1928 Packard Model 533 Six

The six-cylinder Packards were replaced in 1916 by a twelve-cylinder model, joined in 1922 by the Single Six. The L-head straight-6 displaced 241.5 cubic-inches and produced 52 horsepower, nearly as much as the previous six-cylinder engine but with half the displacement and half the weight. It received the Fuelizer system introduced on the Twin Six, and a cast aluminum crankcase and oil pan were bolted to the cast-iron cylinder block. While the Packard Twin Six rested on a 136-inch wheelbase, the Packard Single Six received a 116-inch platform. Prices for the Twin Six were typically in the high $4,000 to $7,000 range, while the Single Six pricing began at the mid-$3,000s.

Despite the mechanical and styling prowess of the Single Six, sales were disappointing. Packard refined the model, lowered its price, and introduced the second series Single Six in December of 1923, the final year for the Twin Six. Along with four-wheel brakes, the new model claimed 20 mpg economy, and handily outside the new Single Eight introduced at the same time, with the $1,000 price advantage no doubt playing a role in its popularity.

The Single Eight joined the Packard lineup in 1924, offered on a 136- and 143-inch wheelbase. The 357.8 cubic-inch straight-8 engine used mechanical valve lifters, a Packard updraft carburetor with Fuelizer, nine main bearings, and delivered 85 horsepower at 8,300 RPM.

The final iteration of the Packard Six (not including the model introduced in 1937) was the Fifth Series, introduced on July 1st of 1927. It was available on two wheelbase sizes, and a custom body catalog for the longer chassis offered designs by Derham, Dietrich, Brewster, and others. Refinements to the engine included four-point mounting, better lubrication, and an oil filter. With nearly 22,000 built, the Six outsold the Eights by a wide margin.

The 1928 Packard
The Packard model lineup for 1928 included the Custom and Standard Model Eight (443) using a 143-inch wheelbase and the Fifth Series Six. The Series 526 Six rested on a 126-inch wheelbase and the 533 Six used a 133-inch platform. Its straight-6 engine delivered 81 horsepower and was backed by a three-speed selective transmission with a two-plate clutch, hypoid differential, and mechanical brakes on all four wheels. The eight-cylinder models were priced in the mid-$3,000 to low $5,000 range, and the six-cylinder versions ranged from $1,975 to $2,785.

The Six easily outsold the Eight, with 7,800 examples built of the Eight compared to 41,750 of the Six. 28,336 examples were the Series 526 and 13,414 were the Series 533. Bodystyles on the Packard 533 included a phaeton, seven-passenger touring, sedan limousine, club sedan, sedan, and runabout.

Despite the overwhelming popularity of the Packard Six, it was not included in the 1929 Packard lineup, now consisting solely of eight-cylinder models. The Standard Eight replaced the former Six, using its two chassis lengths with a slight half-inch increase in size, and the Packard-designed shock absorbers replaced the Watson Stabilizers. The 348.8 cubic-inch engine powering the Custom and DeLuxe Eight was joined by a 319.2 cubic-inch eight installed in the Standard Eight. The smaller engine delivered 90 horsepower while the larger version produced 130 horsepower. Eight-cylinder power would be the sole provider of power to Packards through 1933 when it was joined by the Twin Six twelve-cylinder model.

by Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2021