1930 Packard Series 734 Eight Speedster Phaeton

The Packard 734 Speedster was one of the first cars built in series by using the muscle car recipe, long before the term was born: a lightweight body mounted to the company's shortest chassis and fitted with a modified version of its biggest engine. Speedsters were offered to the public in 1929. In 1930, the Packard Motor Car Company offered a special series of cars known as the Speedster Eight. Five body styles were available: a two-passenger runabout, four-passenger runabout, four-passenger phaeton, four-passenger Victoria and four-passenger sedan. The 385 cubic-inch Custom Eight was fitted with a high-compression head, high-lift camshaft, larger exhaust ports, and a dual-throat carburetor, all of which helped bump horsepower from 106 to 145 giving the car an honest 100 mph capability. Speedsters were among the first Packards to be equipped with a 4-speed transmission.

The Speedster was not advertised, and quietly disappeared without fanfare; most Packard dealers weren't even aware of its existence. It is estimated that 32 phaetons were built, with just five known to survive.

The 734 Speedster was offered as a Boattail, a Phaeton, a Sedan, a Victoria Coupe, and later, as a Roadster. It is believed that a total of only 150 734 Speedsters in all body styles were sold. Packard would discontinue the Speedster Series in 1931.

Of particular interest is that in 1930, Packard sold nearly twice as many cars abroad as any other marque priced over $2,000. Between 1924 and 1930, Packard was the top-selling luxury brand and in 1931, ten Packards were owned by Japan's royal family.

Ownership of this speedster is confirmed back to 1942 when it was owned by Smith Hempstone Oliver, who later became Associate Curator of Land Transportation at the Smithsonian Institution. The current owner acquired the car in 1960.

The Speedster series cars were powered by a special Packard Deluxe Eight inline 384.8 cubic-inch motor with a high compression head and dual updraft carburetor that developed 125 horsepower. Speedster prices ranged from $5,200 to $6,000; only 113 of these cars were built.