1939 Packard 1703 Super Eight Convertible Sedan

The 1939 Packard Super Eight Series 1703 was available as a club coupe, a convertible coupe, and sedan, and a touring sedan. Powering the car was an L-head straight-eight capable of producing 130 horsepower. It had a three-speed selective synchromesh gearbox and hydraulic brakes on all four wheels.

The Super 8 series was divided into the Series 1703 and the 1705. The 1703 had a 127-inch platform while the 1705 rested on a larger, 148-inch wheelbase. The 1705 was available as a touring sedan or a touring limousine. Both had the same straight-eight engine.

One of the biggest changes for the 1939 model year for the Super Eight was the reduction in body styles. Packard offered more than double the number of body styles in 1938 than they did in 1939. Packard was moving closer and closer to becoming a Junior Packard. This would be the final year for the Super Eight's 130 horsepower engine.

For 1938, the Packards Super Eight engine was now completely made from cast iron. The compression ratio and the rear axle ratios were both changed. The engine now had a 6.45:1 compression ratio, a change from 6.5 over the prior year. Pricing for the Super 8 ranged from $1650 to $2300.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2011