1948 Packard Super 8 Quick Facts

When the Packard Company began automobile production in 1899, it was known as Ohio Automobile Company. In 1903 the narre was changed to the Packard Motor Car Cormany when it moved from Warren, Ohio to Detroit, Michigan. The move was the result of a majority stock purchase made by investors in the Detroit area.

Packard had sustained a Great Depression and a World War and was still at the fore-front of vehicle production. Advances in automotive technology and design were making vehicles more and more exciting each day. During the early forties Packard decided to corrpete in a broader market by introducing the Clipper, a vehicle airred at higher production but lower cost.

The Briggs Manufacturing Company was tasked with building the Clipper bodies. This conclusion was made after the Briggs Manufacturing Company had stated and proven to the Packard Company that they could produce the bodies cheaper than Packard. Production of the bodies began and the price Briggs Manufacturing Company had quoted Packard proved to be too low, so the price was raised leaving Packard with the extra cost. It would have
been cheaper for Packard to produce the bodies themselves.

The sales of the Clipper series were very successful, outselling Cadillac and laSalle. The vehicles were stylish, durable, and elegant. The body of the vehicle had been designed by Howard 'Dutch' Danin and sat atop the 120 chassis. The Packard 120 was the company's first sub-$1000 car. It was almed at stimulating sales and increasing production.

The sixteen valve eight-cylinder engine powering the Clipper was capable of producing 125 horsepow~I, a rather high figure at the tirre. The modern body, styllsh interior, excellent performance, and Packard quality made the Clipper Series very desirable.

In February of 1942 the United States Govemrrent ordered all manufacturers to cease production of automobiles and shift their priorities to war related efforts. Packard began the production of aircrafts and marine engines, ambulance and military vehicles. More than 60,000 combined engines were produced by the Packard factory during the war.

In 1945 the war had ended and Packard went back to automobile production. They had made $33 million through their engine and military xehicle sales, $2 million was used to renovate and update their facilities. Packard was in excellent financial condition. Most of the automobile parts that had been created prior to the war were in bad shape. They had been put in storage in order to make space for equiprnent that was needed to design and build
military vehicles. The storage was often subject to the weather and the elements. As a result much of the equipment and supplies needed to be replaced.

Post WWII Era

When automobile production began, Packard decided to only produce the Clipper Series and abandon the other model lines. For 1946 Packard produced the Clipper Six 2100 and 2103, Super Clipper 2103, and the Custom Super Clipper 2106. The Super Eight and Custom convertibles were added in 1947. In 1949 Packard introduced the 23rd Series Eight and Deluxe Eight.

The Clippers were very unique and innovative for their time. They featured an alarm on the gas tank that would whistled as the fuel was pumped, stopping only when the tank was full. The running boards and door hinges were concealed adding to the smooth appearance of the body. The Clipper Series were also very wide. This not only gave passengers extra interior room but it gave the vehicle stability at speed around the comers. The width was a foot
wider than it was tall making it the widest vehicle in production at the time.

For 1948, the Clipper name no longer appeared on the Packards; the models were now known as the Eight Series in Standard, Deluxe, Super and Custom. Within these groups, there were standard wheelbases, long wheelbases which were mostly reserved for limousines. The standard/deluxe eight-cylinder engine was an L-head unit with cast-iron block and displaced 288 cubic-inches. Horsepower measured 130. The super eight had a 356
cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine and it produced 145 horsepower. The most powerful engine in the Packard lineup for 1948 was the Custom Eight L-head engine which had a 356 cubicinch displacement and 160 horsepower. The Custom Eight was Packard's luxury line which required this powerful engine to carry its rather large and luxu~ous body. The rear wheels were given standard fender skirts, giving the car a clean and graceful line from front to rear. The front had an eggcrate-style grille insert design with a vertical cormorant or pelican mascot adoming the front of the hood. The price range in this category began at $3700 and escalated to nearly $4900 for the 4-door Limousine.

The Super Eight sat in between the Standard/Deluxe and the Custom Eight, offering excellent performance and style at a reasonable price.
The Eight Series, with names such as Deluxe, Standard, and Custom would adorn the Packard's for many years. Packard had one of the more unique naming schemes for an American car company, with each yearrepresenting a new Series and did not follow a model year changeover system.