1908 Packard Model Thirty

James Ward Packard acquired one of the first cars built by Alexander Winton. Mr. Packard was the owner of the Packard Electric Company, a pioneer manufacturer of cable and electrical devices. He was influential, had strong financial footing, and had skills as an engineer. When Mr. Packard offered suggestions for improvements to the Winton automotive he was dismissed with a 'Why don't you make a car yourself?' Fueled by a desire to do just that, the forthcoming Packard automobiles would shape the luxury car field for the next sixty years.

At New York City's first automobile show in 1900, James Ward Packard displayed the first motor carriage. The Packards quickly proved to be reliable, well-engineered, and advanced. A 1902 Model F powered by a single-cylinder 12 horsepower engine with automatic ignition advance and 3-speed sliding gear transmission made the transcontinental trip from San Francisco to New York in 53 days.

Soon, the company had transitioned from buggy-style runabouts and tourers to the front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration with the Model K and its successor the Model L. By 1903, the company had moved from its original home in Warren, Ohio to Detroit, and production of motor trucks soon commenced making them one of the first companies to produce internal combustion-powered trucks as a separate and distinct line.

The Packard Model '30' was introduced in 1906, and by this point in history, the company had already established a reputation as being one of the leading automakers in America. The Model 30 continued to build upon the reputation, with its 431.9 cubic-inch T-head engine, produced using French engine castings and developing 40 ALM horsepower. Being conservative, Packard advertised it as making 30 brake horsepower, thus the name 'Model 30.' They were superbly engineered and powerful and would earn remarkable success during their years in production, which continued through 1912.

The Model 30 had wooden wheels, a three-speed transaxle, and a price tag of around $4,000 which was considerably more expensive than most other four-cylinder cars. Despite the high price, the car sold well, especially to fleets. With a 5-inch bore and a long 5 1/2-inch stroke, the Model 30 was powerful enough to carry the larger and more elaborate coachwork that its customers were increasingly specifying. For this reason, along with creating room for the new larger engine, the Model 30 was offered in longer wheelbase chassis. Drive was through an unusual expanding band clutch and three-speed transmission to a live rear axle. The previous year with the Model S, Packard had abandoned transverse leaf spring suspension in favor of semi-elliptical springs. Redundant braking on the rear wheels was provided by both expanding shoe and contracting band brakes.

Over 1,300 were sold in the year of its introduction, 1907, and approximately the same amount the following year. Packard offered it with Touring, Limousine, and Landaulette coachwork on a 122-inch wheelbase and as a lightweight, sporting Runabout or Gentleman's Roadster on a short 108-inch wheelbase.

The Model 30 was Packard's last four-cylinder model.

by Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2020