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.
