A beautiful pair of Packards in Oregon

 

This past week, the author had the opportunity to visit the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (WAAAM) in Hood River Oregon, and we will feature several of the most interesting automobiles in their excellent collection. Today, we’ll share a couple of Packards, one of the most respected brands of luxury cars during the nineteen twenties and thirties. The Packard advertising slogan was “Ask the man who owns one.”

 

 

The first car featured is a 1929 Packard Model 626 Sport Coupe which was originally sold by the Earle C. Anthony, the Packard distributor for the state of California, initially it was used a demonstrator for the optional wooden artillery wheels, which proved to be unpopular, as customers thought the wooden wheels looked “old fashioned” and preferred solid disk wheels. The Packard 626 series car introduced in 1929 was powered by 320 cubic inch straight eight engine that produced 90 horsepower but was a very smooth-running powerplant.

 

 

Earle Anthony dealerships actually sold this car twice, as it was traded in by the original owner and sold as a used car to the second owner who kept the car for over thirty years. This remarkable car is on it fourth owner in 87 years. Much of the car is original but it has been repainted in its attractive maroon and black finis with dark yellow pinstriping. Note that there is not a separate compartment for the golf bag; rather the bag rests in the footwell of the rumble seat.   

 

The other Packard in the WAAAM collection is this spectacular 1935 Packard twelve-cylinder convertible coupe, finished in dark blue with gold pinstriping.

 

 

The 473 cubic inch V-12 engine has aluminum heads with hydraulic valve lifters and produced 160 horsepower. Unlike the 1929 Sport Coupe, this Packard has been totally restored.

Reportedly there were just 788 Packard Twelves built during the 1935 model year at the height of the Great Depression. One can easily imagine a  movie star or wealthy playboy behind the wheel of this magnificent Packard.