1924 Packard Single Eight Town Car

Packard was one of the leading manufacturers of fine luxury automobiles until their end in 1958. Many consider the demise of Packard a great industrial tragedy. The company was started in 1899 in Warren, Ohio by James Ward Packard, his brother William Packard and George Weiss. The company was an immediate success, grew rapidly, and in 1903, moved to a new large factory in Detroit, designed by Albert Kahn. Over the years, they made a large variety of vehicles and engines for cars, trucks, boats, military vehicles, aircraft and boats. By the time this 1924 Packard was built, Packard enjoyed a worldwide reputation for quality luxury cars equal to that of Rolls-Royce.

The Packard Straight-Eight engine, introduced in 1924 (mid-1923), would be used and refined for the next thirty years and has become the most famous and reliable Packard engine ever produced. Unlike most manufacturers at that time, Packard did not adhere to an annual model introduction. Instead, it designated its models by series; continuing production of its First Series, including the Model 1-43, through mid-1925.

This Model 143 is powered by the original Straight-Eight, flat-head engine producing 90 horsepower and displacing 358 cubic inches. The engine is fitted to a three-speed transmission and the wheelbase measures 143 inches. The car weighs approximately 4,300 pounds.

The body on this first series Packard was built by the Fleetwood Body Company of Pennsylvania. Shortly after building this body, the Fleetwood Company was purchased by General Motors and moved to Detroit, Michigan. The original owner of this car was Mr. Richey, the president of the Chicago and Northwest Railroad. It was delivered to Chicago Packard on March 8th of 1924. He kept this car at his summer home in Northern Wisconsin until his death in the 1950's. It was given to the caretaker of the property who started converting it to a truck. It sat until the current owner rescued it in 1978. It was in extremely poor condition, with missing parts, requiring a full restoration which the owner completed in 2009.

This car is the only one of its type known to have been produced and, as such, has many unique features. The windshield is cast in one piece and has no wipers, port and starboard lights are fitted, it features dual sidemount spare tires, faux landau irons, and an intricate needle-point interior with privacy shades on the rear doors are included. During restoration, it was noticed that most parts were stamped with the body number, including the shanks on bolts.