1937 Packard 1502 Super Eight

The 1932 Packard styling was in response to a rapidly changing marketplace, gaining a quieter and smoother ride with lighter steering and better brakes. Wheels shrunk from 20 inches to 17 inches and fenders gained skirting to hide the empty space of the lost wheels. Up to 1934, the bodies were basically designed for the earlier 1930-32 era cars, and the fenders and noses were changed to blend the two.

The top-of-the-line Packards were given an extensive redesign in 1935, including more horsepower and improvements in suspension and steering that made the cars more comfortable and easier to drive. New bodies were introduced with envelope styling and for the first time, the car was designed as a whole, with fenders, hood, body, and running boards integrated into a well-executed design. The new line of bodies and fenders better embraced the smaller wheels and lower frames.

Packard gave the 1937 senior automobiles another major update - the addition of an independent front suspension which was a modern system utilizing wishbones and coil springs. This gave the cars light steering, a more supple ride, and better road holding. Another major change was the adoption of hydraulic brakes.

The eight-cylinder Packard was in its 15th series (there was no 13th) by the time this Model 1502 rolled off the Detroit company's production line in 1937. The highlight was the introduction of the 5.2-liter engines on the larger Eight. All Packards had featured synchromesh transmission since 1933. Now, the radiator was tipped back with a 30-degree slant, giving it a more swept-back look. Buyers could select from fifteen different body styles, catering to nearly every need and desire.

By 1937, the era of coach-built cars had nearly come to an end. Decreasing demand due to the lingering effects of the Great Depression combined with the increasing quality and stylishness of factory coachwork dramatically reduced the business available to independent coachbuilders. Thus, most coachbuilders had closed or moved on to other businesses. As part of the Senior Packard's list of available body styles were several semi-custom bodies built by LeBaron. The list included a cabriolet and town car on the Super Eight chassis and an All-Weather Town Car and All_Weather Cabriolet on the Packard Twelve.

The Packards continued to build to the highest standards and were unquestionably one of the finest American cars of the pre-war era.

Packard's lineup of 1937 models included the newly introduced Six resting on a 115-inch wheelbase and equipped with a 237 cubic-inch inline six-cylinder engine offering 100 horsepower at 3,600 RPM. It used a three-speed selective synchromesh transmission, had hydraulic brakes on four wheels, and prices ranged from $795 to $910. The station wagon was higher at $1,300. Over 30,000 examples of the Packard Six were produced in its inaugural year.

Above the Packard Six was the Packard One Twenty, equipped with a 282 cubic-inch straight-8 offering 120 horsepower at 3,800 RPM. The wheelbase measured 120 inches and it used a three-speed selective synchromesh transmission and four-wheel hydraulic brakes. Over a dozen body styles were available with most prices ranging from $1,130 to $1,465. The seven-passenger touring sedan listed for $1,900 and the seven-passenger touring limousine crested the two-thousand dollar mark at $2,050.

The Packard Super Eight and the Packard Twelve were offered on three different wheelbase sizes, accommodating sporty and elegant coachwork. The Super Eight wheelbases measured 127-, 134-, and 139-inches. A commercial chassis of 165 inches was also available. The 320 cubic-inch straight-eight engine used nine main bearings, a Stromberg carburetor, roller camshafts, and standard 6.5:1 compression. It delivered 135 horsepower at 3,200 RPM which was sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed selective synchromesh transmission with a single disc clutch and floor shift controls. Hydraulic brakes on all four wheels provided the stopping power.

The 127-inch Packard Super Eight was known as the Series 1500, the 134-inch wheelbase was the Series 1501, and the larger 139-inch wheelbase was the Series 1502. Prices ranged from $2,335 to $5,000 and a total of 5,793 units were built.

The range-topping Packard Twelve had a 132.25-inch wheelbase (Series 1506), a 139.25-inch wheelbase (Series 1507), and a 144.25-inch platform (Series 1508). The largest platform was aptly suited for the large, luxurious, seven-passenger limousine bodies. The heart of the stately Packard was a 473.3 cubic-inch V-12 engine with four main bearings, a Stromberg carburetor, a 6.4:1 compression ratio, and 175 horsepower at 3,200 RPM. Its transmission was a three-speed selective synchromesh unit with a single plate vacuum assist clutch and braking was handled by hydraulic drums with a vacuum booster. Prices ranged from $3,490 to $5,900. A total of 1,300 examples were built in 1937.

by Daniel Vaughan | Jan 2020