1940 Packard Super-8 One-Sixty Convertible Sedan

This 1940 Packard 160 Super Eight Convertible Sedan is a left-hand drive vehicle with a yellow exterior and a green interior. It is the Ex-Billy Wilder, Academy Award-winning screenwriter, director, and producer, vehicle. It is powered by a Packard L-head, 356 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine that produces 160 horsepower. It is equipped with a three-speed selective synchromesh transmission with column-mounted gearshift controls. Braking is provided by the four-wheel hydraulic drums.

Due to the economic turmoil of the early 1930s, many manufacturers struggled financially during this period. One of the most devastated areas was the luxury car segment as the pool of potential buyers dwindled even further causing competition to rise quickly. This was true for Packard who saw their Junior Series of cars grow in popularity while their Senior Series suffered. By the start of the 1940s, the company was under the direction of George Christopher who continued to further distinguish the Junior and Senior series. The entry-level Packard cost around $700 while the top-of-line offerings would set the buyer back $6000. This was a small fortune at the time and a very expensive price that only a few could afford. The top-of-the-line vehicles were the 180 Series with coachwork done by custom coachbuilders. Later, the Seniors were renamed to the Super Eight 160 and the Custom Super Eight 180. They were outfitted with the new 160 horsepower engine which was adequate enough to keep these rolling luxury machines moving along at a comfortable pace on the roadways.

The Series was distinguished by a number of visual items such as the hubcaps and hood louvers. The One-Sixty also featured the 'flying lady' mascot while the One-Eighty carried the cormorant.

The example shown was auctioned at the 2006 Christies Auction in Monterey California at the Monterey Jet Center where it was expected to fetch between $100000-$120000. At the conclusion of the bidding, it had found a new owner at the price of $111625.

Mr. Wilder became the first owner of this car. His purpose was to chauffeur Ginger Rogers and her mother to an from the set where Ginger was at the time cast in the film, 'The Major and the Minor.' The film was directed by Billy Wilder. After the film, Mr. Wilder retained the vehicle and remained with him at Paramount Studios as a symbol of Hollywood's Golden Age. In 1946 it was traded to a mechanic for a Cadillac. The new owner kept the car until his death in the 1970s. The car was then sold to a collector who resided in New Jersey. The car was kept in storage for twenty years.

The car received a restoration and was awarded a Senior CCCA Award. The car was purchased by its next owner in 2005 and was transported to its new home on the West Coast. A minor restoration was undertaken and then shown at the Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance where it was awarded a 'Best in Class'.

By Daniel Vaughan | Sep 2011

As the 1930s drew to a close the Packard Motor Car Company found itself facing a dilemma. The newly introduced Junior Series cars grew in popularity, but the Senior Series cars suffered. The economic and political tone of the country dictated a new norm and unfortunately for Packard their higher-priced cars began to suffer. By 1940 the manufacturer, largely under the direction of George Christopher, cleverly placed even more distance between the two lines. Prices for Packards ranged from the very modest, less than $700, to the very expensive, over $6,000 for the custom coachbuilt 180 series cars. The two Junior models became Packard's bread and butter of those Depression years, with advertising greatly focused around their low prices. The Seniors were renamed the Super Eight 160 and the Custom Super Eight 180, both fitted with the new 160hp engines. Packard boasted, 'Unmistakably a leader!', these Senior cars were fitted with 'the most powerful 8-cylinder motor built for passenger car use in America today.' The One-Sixty and One-Eighty had several distinguishing factors including hubcaps and hood louvers. The One-Sixty also featured the 'flying lady' mascot while the One-Eighty carried the cormorant.

The Packard on offer was originally spotted by the mother of one of Hollywood's great stars, Ginger Rogers, who at the time was cast in the film, The Major and the Minor, directed by the Academy Award-winning, Billy Wilder. In an effort to please his glamorous leading lady, Mr. Wilder purchased the car to chauffeur Ginger and her mother to and from the set. Ultimately, the Packard instead followed Mr. Wilder as his career soared (during his lifetime he had been nominated for 21 Academy Awards and won six, including two for best picture.) The Packard remained at Paramount Studios as a symbol of Hollywood's Golden Age until it was traded for a new Cadillac in 1946. The new owner, a mechanic who had worked on the car, kept it until his death in the 1970s when it was then sold to a collector in New Jersey where it spent the next two decades in storage. Deeply in need of attention, the Packard was restored and rewarded with a Senior CCCA Award while spending several years on the East Coast being shown in various concours.

In April of 2005, the Packard was returned to the West Coast when the current owner purchased the car. With great attention to detail, the Packard Super Eight received an updated restoration with additional changes such as radial tires and an electronic ignition only adding to the driving enjoyment and reliability. Since its return to California, this Packard has won awards at the Serrano Concours and most recently garnered a 'Best in Class' at the Palo Alto Concours d'Elegance. With fine provenance, this stunning example of pre-war elegance will continue to turn heads and would be a glamorous addition to any collection

Source - Christies