1948 Packard Eight Station Sedan

Packard produced the Station Sedans in 1948 and 1949 in limited quantities. Unlike other woodies of the era, the only place where wood was used as a stress-bearing part of the body is where the standard sedan's rear quarter is cut away and replaced with wood. The rest of the birch is merely inlaid where the outer metal skin has been cut away, except for the tailgate, which is all wood.

The Packard Series 22 wood-sided station sedan featured a primary substructure of steel components with fine-grained hardwood used for the paneling on the exterior and stainless 'no mar' trim installed on the wood cargo area inside. Packard marketed the body style as a successor to the 'station wagon.' Power was from the 288 cubic-inch inline-8 cylinder engine rated at 130 horsepower and equipped with a downdraft carburetor and 3-speed manual transmission that has both overdrive and vacuum-assist shifting.

This Packard Series 22 Station Sedan has been given a period-correct frame-off refreshing, including the interior with its fold-down secondary seat for additional storage capability. After its completion it was shown at the 2016 Hilton Head Concurs d'Elegance where it won a Best in Class award.

The interior is nicely appointed with plaid inserts on the bench seats, a wood-grain dash, tinted glass, and a radio with an antenna. The exterior is painted green with a reduced-profile grille opening and substantial rib-stamped front and rear bumpers complete with bumper guards. Accent features include fender skirts, full-size wheel covers, and wide whitewall tires.

By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2019