1948 Packard Standard Eight Station 4-Door Sedan
2020.0024.0001, Savoy Collection
Engine: 288 cu. in. (4.7L) Cast-iron block, I-8
Output: 130 HP @ 3,600 RPM
Transmission: 3 Speed Manual w/overdrive
Wheelbase: 120 in.
Overall Length: 204 in.
Weight: 4,080 lbs.
Top Speed: 85 MPH
Original Price: $3,350
Manufacturer: Packard
Initially, after the war, Packard’s styling remained almost unchanged. However, starting in 1947, the company began to lose ground because it failed to keep up with the competition. In 1948, Packard’s biggest rival, Cadillac, introduced its P-38 type tailfin cars, which garnered praise from design groups around the world. Forced to play catch-up, the Standard Eight Station Sedan was Packard’s first model released during the postwar era. Instead of a wood-framed body attached to a chassis, the Standard Eight used a steel sub-frame and doors, with wood paneling added.
A longer hood, “ox-yoke” shaped upper grill, and a wrap-around lower grill were combined with a smoother, rounded bodyline. Packard officials described this as their “free-flow” styling. Detractors were less complimentary about the new design, calling it either an “inverted bathtub” or a “pregnant elephant.” The well-appointed interior featured large, comfortable seats along with generous amounts of head and leg room. The Standard Eight Station Sedan makes a significant cameo in HBO’s Series, “Lovecraft Country” (2020).