1936 Packard Model 1401 Eight

Improvements to the Packard vehicles during the mid-1930s resulted in increased horsepower and better handling. The suspension and steering were both updated making the vehicles easier to drive and more comfortable for the passengers. The exterior was given a face-lift, integrating many elements into one smooth design, such as the hood, fenders, and running boards.

Packard diversified its lineup with the addition of the 'Junior' medium-priced One Twenty for 1935 complimenting the higher-priced and exclusive 'Senior' line. It was given an L-head straight-eight engine with a 256.2 cubic-inch displacement and delivering 110 horsepower. Prices ranged from $980 to $1,095, a considerable bargain compared to the next 'least expensive' Packard which began at $2,385. The top-of-the-line Packards easily eclipsed $6,000. The more affordable Packard One Twenty catered to a wider audience of buyers and nearly 25,000 examples were sold in its inaugural year, well above the combined 6,961 examples produced throughout the rest of the 1935 Packard line.

The 1935 Packards were known as the 'Twelfth' series and the 1936 Packards were the 'Fourteenth' Series. Due to superstition, there were no Thirteenth Series Packards.

The 1936 Packard models (Fourteenth Series) included the 'entry-level' One Twenty, priced from $990 to $1,400, the 'Eight' priced from $2,385 to $3,270 (the town car with coachwork by LeBaron listed much higher, at $5,385), the 'Super Eight' with prices of $2,990 to $5,800, and the 'Twelve' priced in the low-$4,000s to mid-$6,000. The One Twenty (120-B) rested on a 120-inch wheelbase and the engine's stroke increased to 4.5 inches resulting in a 282 cubic-inch displacement and an increase in power to 120 horsepower (both its wheelbase and its horsepower reflected its name).

The Packard 'Eight' had three wheelbase sizes of 127 inches for the 1400 Series, 134 inches for the 1401 Series, and 139-inch wheelbase for the 1402 Series. The commercial vehicle platform of the 1402 measured 160 inches. The 320 cubic-inch straight-eight engine had a 6.0:1 compression ratio, Stromberg-Duplex carburetor, nine main bearings, roller cam valve lifters, and delivered 130 horsepower at 3,200 RPM. Styling updates were minimal, limited to chrome strip ribs being added to the headlights, and the radiator and front fenders sloped at an additional five degrees. The clutch bearings were now permanently lubricated. A Delco-Remy ignition with an octane selector was added that switched the spark timing to permit the use of either premium or standard fuel, a helpful feature during an era when gasoline quality was anything but consistent. This feature was being used by several manufacturers throughout the industry, including Buick since 1934.

Body styles on the Packard Eight remained the same as the previous year, and many of the prices remained unchanged. The Packard Eight 1400 consisting of a sedan priced at $2,385 and the 1402 was offered as a seven-passenger sedan, limousine, convertible sedan, or an all-weather town car by LeBaron with prices that ranged from $2,750 to $5,385. The Series 1401 platform carried the most extensive list of body styles within the Packard Eight model, including a coupe roadster priced at $2,730, a phaeton at $3,020, convertible victoria at $3,200, a coupe with rumble seat at $2,470, a five-passenger coupe at $2,560, and a club sedan at $2,580. The sedan listed at $2,585 and the formal sedan was $3,285. The All-Weather Cabriolet with coachwork by LeBaron was the most expensive at $5,240.

The Super Eight Series 1403 rested on a 132-inch wheelbase, the 1404 used a 139-inch platform, and the 1405 measured 144 inches. Its 384.4 cubic-inch straight-8 engine produced 150 horsepower. The Packard Twelve Series 1407 had a 139-inch wheelbase (the same as the Super Eight 1404) and the 1408 had a 144-inch platform (the same as the 1405). The 67-degree V-block twelve-cylinder engine displaced 473.3 cubic inches and delivered 175 horsepower at 3,200 RPM.

1936 was the final year Packard vehicles would use the 17-inch wire wheels. All 1936 Packards came equipped with a three-speed selective synchromesh transmission with floor shift controls. The One Twenty was equipped with four-wheel hydraulic brakes, the Eight and Super Eight had four-wheel mechanical brakes, and the Twelve used mechanical-vacuum-assisted brakes at all four corners.

The Packard One Twenty remained the most popular with sales exceeding 55,000 units. The Packard Eight production reached 3,973, a slight decrease from the 4,781 units produced a year earlier. Super Eight production was 1,330 units and the exclusive Twelve had 682 sales.

The popularity of the One Twenty prompted Packard to diversify its lineup even further, and for 1937 the Fifteenth Series Packard line included a new six-cylinder model, the first six-cylinder Packard since 1927. Prices on the Six ranged from $800 to $1,300. The One Twenty listed for $1,130 to $2,050. The Packard 'Eight' was no longer part of the lineup, but its engine was moved to the Super Eight, and wheelbase lengths included a 127-, 134-, and 139-inch platform. (The Packard Six had a 115-inch wheelbase and the Packard One Twenty used a 120- and 138-inch wheelbase). The Packard Twelve continued to provide 175 horsepower from its 473.3 CID engine and wheelbase lengths measured 132.25-, 139.25-, and 144.25-inches.

by Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2019