1929 Packard 640 Custom Eight Roadster

Packard sold 47,855 cars in 1929 with prices ranging from $2,435 to over $6,000. By this point in history, Packard was one of the oldest car companies in America, with the first Packard built in 1899. The enterprise that began life as the Ohio Automobile Company in Warren, Ohio became the Packard Motor Car Company in 1902 and moved to Detroit the following year.

The company entered the Classic era with a new straight eight engine replacing its early V12. This milestone engine used a unique crankshaft design and firing order that balanced the reciprocating forces and eliminated vibration. It was lighter than the V12, providing more power, and better fuel economy and the inline configuration was compatible with the 'long hood' design themes that could be characteristic of the Classic era.

The Model 640 rode on a 140-inch wheelbase chassis and was powered by a 385 cubic-inch straight eight-cylinder engine offering 106 horsepower. It was priced at $3,175 and 9,801 were produced.

This Packard Runabout was sold new by the Earl C. Anthony dealership in California on April 13th of 1929. It was destroyed in a building fire in 1981. A three-year restoration was completed in January 2010.