1948 Packard Eight Station Sedan

The new Station Sedan, now based on the Standard Eight sedan and featuring hewn white ash paneling over an all-steel body, featured a unique semi-fastback roofline, and rear quarter panels. More than just decoration, the wood worked as part of the vehicle's structural integrity in the car's tailgate, which pioneered the two-piece gate design that would become common on many American wagons by the mid-1950s.

These were some of Packard's most elegant offerings of this year, fitted with lush and luxurious elements. The New York Fashion Academy dubbed it 'Fashion Car of the Year.' Most Packard Station Sedans were built in 1948, with leftovers re-titled and sold in 1949 and 1950.

The Packard Station Sedans were rare when they were new - and they are even rarer today, as their wooden body required proper care that many examples were not fortunate to receive.

This particular example was in long-term ownership on the East Coast before it was acquired by the Orin Smith collection. Prior to the Smith purchase, the car was given a nut-and-bolt, body-off chassis restoration. It is finished in Aztec Brown, has birch woodwork, and the interior is upholstered in brown vinyl with tweed fabric inserts and rubber mats.

By Daniel Vaughan | May 2017