1931 Packard Model 840 DeLuxe Eight Roadster

The Packard Speedster, built in 1929 and 1930 (only), was patterned after a boat-tailed roadster built in 1928 by chief engineer Jesse Vincent. The Packard Deluxe Eight had the shorter and lighter Standard Eight chassis with the more powerful Custom Eight engine. A production version was introduced in February of 1929, first as a rumble-seat roadster, followed by a four-passenger phaeton and a sedan. Selling for about twice the price of a Standard Eight, only around 70 examples of the Speedster were constructed.

For 1930, the Speedster line expanded, with the addition of a two-passenger boat-tail runabout and a victoria. There were two engines offered, a detuned 125 bhp unit and a more powerful 145 bhp with a high compression head, finned manifold, larger valves, and twin-choke carburetor. The top speed was over 100 miles per hour.

The Eighth Series Packards were introduced on August 14th, 1930. Deluxe Eights rode on two wheelbase sizes, a 140.5-inch platform for the open and five-passenger closed cars as well as the Individual Custom models and 145.5 for the seven-passenger sedan and sedan-limousine.

More than 6,000 Deluxe Eights were produced during the 1930 model year, followed by 2,016 the following year. The Ninth Series 1932 models were introduced in June 1931, and the factory began producing kits to update unsold 1931s to the new look to help dealers reduce inventories.

This Deluxe Eight Roadster was purchased by the current owner in the early 1970s. It is a 'black plate' California car in excellent condition. 'Black plate' refers to the California license plates of 1963-1969, which remain valid when documented to the car for which they were originally issued.

The car is fitted with chrome wire wheels, chrome side-mount covers, a rear-mounted trunk, and a spotlight on the driver's side.
In 2011, the car was offered for sale in Monterey, Ca. presented by RM Auctions. It was estimated to sell for $175,000-$250,000 and offered without reserve. As bidding came to a close, the car had been sold for the sum of $159,500, including the buyer's premium.