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During the 1930s, the Great Depression had a firm grip on America and the automobile industry. Packard remained at the top of the luxury market but its future, like that of its competitors, was tenuous.
Packard had a reputation for its smooth and powerful eight-cylinder engines, the stately ride of its quality chassis, and the uniform excellence of its materials and manufacture. To own a Packard was a statement of success. Packard's successful advertising campaign, 'Ask the man who owns one' acknowledged, not only for their clients but also for the larger world, that Packard owners were trendsetters whose opinions mattered.
The Eighth Series Packards was introduced in August of 1930 and endured the transformation in both the world's economy and the automobile market of the stock market crash of October 1929 and the ensuing economic depression. The effect of the Crash was still being assessed, and every positive development in the economy and financial markets was seized as an indication that things weren't as bad as they might seem, or were going to get better. There had been no time following the Crash for Packard to make substantial changes in its models or product lines. There were alterations, however, including more power by adopting the improved cylinder block with larger intake and exhaust ports of the 1930s 734 Speedster in the Deluxe Eights along with larger intake and exhaust manifolds. The vacuum tank fuel feed was replaced by a mechanical fuel pump and chassis lubrication was now automatic rather than by hand pump.
Packard had completed its long-term plan of substantially consolidating all custom body building in its own coachworks. This plan was seen as a way of heightening Packard's market position and capturing the lucrative custom coachbuilding commissions. Instead, it became a way of keeping Packard staff employed as sales volumes plummeted.
Packard responded to the financial crisis by lowering prices. The five-passenger 840 Sedan price dropped over 15 percent from the comparable Seventh Series model at introduction, then dropped again in September. This decrease did little as sales all but stopped.
This particular example is a Packard 840 DeLuxe Eight Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton. It was given a meticulous restoration in the Seventies to concours-quality standards. T.J. Day acquired it in 1984 and had additional restoration work done to bring it to its present condition. It is finished in correct lacquer paint with beige body sides, grey fenders and hood, and an orange beltline accent, it has a light beige cloth top and matching cover over the rear-mounted luggage trunk, and its interior is trimmed in orange leather. It is equipped with chrome wire wheels, dual side-mounted spare tires with chrome rings, grey panels and mirrors, dual taillights, hood-side trumpet horns, dual windshields with front wind wings, dual spotlights, radiator stone-guard, Adonis radiator cap mascot, and Pilot-Ray driving lights.
It was a 1980 CCCA winner, shown at Pebble Beach in the 1980s, at the Silverado Concours in 1984, and swept the North Lake Tahoe Antique and Collector Car Show in 1986, winning its class, Best of Show and People's Choice.By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017
Packard had a reputation for its smooth and powerful eight-cylinder engines, the stately ride of its quality chassis, and the uniform excellence of its materials and manufacture. To own a Packard was a statement of success. Packard's successful advertising campaign, 'Ask the man who owns one' acknowledged, not only for their clients but also for the larger world, that Packard owners were trendsetters whose opinions mattered.
The Eighth Series Packards was introduced in August of 1930 and endured the transformation in both the world's economy and the automobile market of the stock market crash of October 1929 and the ensuing economic depression. The effect of the Crash was still being assessed, and every positive development in the economy and financial markets was seized as an indication that things weren't as bad as they might seem, or were going to get better. There had been no time following the Crash for Packard to make substantial changes in its models or product lines. There were alterations, however, including more power by adopting the improved cylinder block with larger intake and exhaust ports of the 1930s 734 Speedster in the Deluxe Eights along with larger intake and exhaust manifolds. The vacuum tank fuel feed was replaced by a mechanical fuel pump and chassis lubrication was now automatic rather than by hand pump.
Packard had completed its long-term plan of substantially consolidating all custom body building in its own coachworks. This plan was seen as a way of heightening Packard's market position and capturing the lucrative custom coachbuilding commissions. Instead, it became a way of keeping Packard staff employed as sales volumes plummeted.
Packard responded to the financial crisis by lowering prices. The five-passenger 840 Sedan price dropped over 15 percent from the comparable Seventh Series model at introduction, then dropped again in September. This decrease did little as sales all but stopped.
This particular example is a Packard 840 DeLuxe Eight Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton. It was given a meticulous restoration in the Seventies to concours-quality standards. T.J. Day acquired it in 1984 and had additional restoration work done to bring it to its present condition. It is finished in correct lacquer paint with beige body sides, grey fenders and hood, and an orange beltline accent, it has a light beige cloth top and matching cover over the rear-mounted luggage trunk, and its interior is trimmed in orange leather. It is equipped with chrome wire wheels, dual side-mounted spare tires with chrome rings, grey panels and mirrors, dual taillights, hood-side trumpet horns, dual windshields with front wind wings, dual spotlights, radiator stone-guard, Adonis radiator cap mascot, and Pilot-Ray driving lights.
It was a 1980 CCCA winner, shown at Pebble Beach in the 1980s, at the Silverado Concours in 1984, and swept the North Lake Tahoe Antique and Collector Car Show in 1986, winning its class, Best of Show and People's Choice.By Daniel Vaughan | Oct 2017
2017 Bonhams : Quail Lodge
Pre-Auction Estimates :
USD $225,000-USD $325,000
Sale Price :
USD $264,000
1931 Packard Model 840 DeLuxe Eight Auction Sales
Recent Sales of the Packard Model 840 DeLuxe Eight
(Data based on Model Year 1931 sales)
1931 Packard 840 Deluxe Eight Convertible Coupe Sold for USD$67,100 2023 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1931 Packard 840 Deluxe Roadster Chassis#: 188801 Sold for USD$196,000 2023 Worldwide Auctioneers : The Enthusiast Auction | |
1931 Packard 840 Deluxe Eight Phaeton Chassis#: 190411 Sold for USD$156,800 2022 RM Sothebys : Monterey | |
1931 PACKARD 840 DELUXE EIGHT ROADSTER Chassis#: 191229 Sold for USD$105,280 2020 Bonhams : Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum | |
1931 Packard 840 Custom Eight Coupe Sold for USD$59,400 2020 Mecum : Indy | |
1931 Packard 840 DeLuxe Eight 4 Passenger Coupe Chassis#: 190041 Sold for USD$56,000 2020 Bonhams : Scottsdale Arizona | |
1931 Packard 840 Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton Sold for USD$59,400 2020 Mecum Auctions : Kissimmee | |
1931 Packard 840 Deluxe Eight 2/4-Passenger Roadster Chassis#: 47249 Sold for USD$242,000 2019 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale, Arizona | |
1931 Packard Custom Eight Roadster Chassis#: 191299 Sold for USD$151,250 2018 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1931 Packard Custom Eight Roadster Chassis#: 189075 Sold for USD$148,500 2018 RM Sothebys : Hershey | |
1931 Packard Custom Eight Sport Phaeton Chassis#: 190860 Sold for USD$151,200 2018 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | |
1931 Packard Series 840 Sold for USD$120,000 2018 Leake Auction : Oklahoma City | |
1931 Packard 840 DeLuxe Eight Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton Chassis#: 190397 Sold for USD$264,000 2017 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | |
1931 Packard Deluxe Eight Convertible Victoria by Dietrich Chassis#: 188700 Sold for USD$192,500 2017 RM Sotheby's : Arizona Auction | |
1931 PACKARD 840 DELUXE CONVERTIBLE COUPE Chassis#: 191094 Sold for USD$71,500 2016 Bonhams : Quail Lodge | |
1931 Packard DeLuxe Eight Convertible Coupe Sold for USD$154,000 2016 Auctions America : Fort Lauderdale | |
1931 Packard Deluxe Eight Convertible Coupe Chassis#: 479-68 Sold for USD$126,500 2013 RM Auction - Hershey | |
1931 Packard Deluxe Eight Sport Phaeton Sold for USD$118,250 2013 Auctions America - Auburn Fall | |
1931 Packard 840 Deluxe Eight Convertible Coupe Chassis#: 479-68 Sold for USD$110,000 2013 RM Auctions - Amelia Island | |
1931 Packard Deluxe Eight Convertible Victoria Chassis#: 188233 Sold for USD$154,000 2012 RM Auctions at Amelia Island, Fla |
Packard Model 840 DeLuxe Eights That Failed To Sell At Auction
1931 Packard Model 840 DeLuxe Eight's that have appeared at auction but did not sell.
Vehicle | Chassis | Event | High Bid | Est. Low | Est. High |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1931 Packard 840 DeLuxe Eight Roadster | 188875 | 2023 RM Sothebys : Amelia Island | $200,000 | $240,000 | |
1931 Packard 840 Deluxe Eight 2/4-Passenger Roadster | 47249 | 2022 Worldwide Auctioneers : Scottsdale Arizona | |||
1931 Packard 840 Deluxe Eight Phaeton | 47196 | 2020 Gooding & Company : Geared Online | $225,000 | $300,000 | |
1931 Packard Deluxe Eight Convertible Coupe | 188730 | 2019 RM Sothebys : Fort Lauderdale | |||
1931 Packard 840 Roadster | 47233 | 2017 The Finest : Boca Raton | $275,000 | $300,000 | |
1931 PACKARD 840 ROADSTER | 189993 | 2016 Scottsdale, The Westin Kierland Resort & Spa | $250,000 | $275,000 | |
1931 Packard Deluxe Eight Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton | 149659 | 2014 RM Auctions Automobiles of Arizona | $165,000 | ||
1931 Packard 840 DeLuxe Rumble Seat Roadster | 188875 | 2012 RM Auctions at Amelia Island, Fla | $200,000 | $250,000 | $300,000 |
1931 Packard Deluxe Eight Convertible Victoria by Waterhouse & Co. | 188233 | 2011 RM Auctions Concours d'Elegance at St. Johns | $230,000 | $250,000 | $350,000 |
1931 Packard 840 Individual Custom Convertible Sedan by Dietrich | 840-206 | 2011 RM Auctions Concours d'Elegance at St. Johns | $190,000 | $200,000 | $300,000 |
1931 PACKARD 840 | 323840 | 2010 Silver Auction Portland | $39,000 | ||
1931 Packard Model 840 DeLuxe Eight | 2009 Automobiles of Arizona | $160,000 | $250,000 | $300,000 | |
1931 Packard 840 Roadster Roadster | 2009 Boca Raton, FL Kruse | $250,000 |
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1931 Packard Model 840 DeLuxe Eight
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