1940 Packard Custom Darrin Super-8 One-Eighty - Ellingson Motorcars

1940 Packard Custom Darrin Super-8 One-Eighty Convertible Sedan Additional Info:

This 1940 Packard Custom Super-8 One-Eighty Convertible Sedan by Darrin is an absolute beauty and multi-time Classic Car Club of America award-winning automobile. After several promising years, by 1940, Packard was again struggling to keep up with its American automaker contemporaries. The economic conditions in the US at the time were looking fairly decent and trending upwards. The historically high unemployment levels from the Great Depression were seemingly in the rearview mirror and finally most Americans were again receiving pay checks. In fact, American automobile demand in 1940 was high and production rose over 30% nationwide from the levels reached in 1939. Nonetheless, Packard's production did not keep up with the rising demand and stayed on par with its 1939 levels. One possible explanation for Packard's sales woes can be attributed to the fact that, while classy, Packards lacked the modern styling that was being seen across seemingly the entire American automotive industry. Furthermore, the gap between America's premier luxury automakers, Cadillac and Packard, grew further apart due to Packard's new focus in the mid-level market now competing more with the likes of Buick and Mercury. In line with longstanding Packard tradition, the model lines were divided into the more moderately priced Junior Packards (i.e. the 110 and 120) and the premium, ultra-luxurious Senior Packards (i.e. the 160 and 180). With the Packard Twelve ceasing production following 1939, the most prestigious, most expensive Senior Packards available were the Custom Super-8 One-Eighty models. While a handful of the Custom Super-8 180 bodies were built by Packard itself, the rarest and most prestigious bodies were built by custom body manufacturers such as Rollston and Darrin. While the 1940 Packard Rollston bodies were essentially modified '39 Twelve bodies, the bodies by Darrin were completely new for 1940 and were thus highly promoted by Packard. While Packard heavily promoted the Darrin-bodied Custom Super-8 180s, their efforts were futile with production estimates floating around a total of 50, give or take a few, Packard Darrins built in 1940. Of course, the "Darrin" name came from famed automobile designer Howard "Dutch" Darrin whose team of skilled craftsman heavily modified or hand crafted virtually every aspect of the Darrin-styled bodies out of their Connersville, Indiana, production facility. Darrin lowered the front profile of the 1940 Darrin Bodied Packards, including the hoods, grilles, cowls, and windshields. The fenders were also enlarged giving off a more accentuated look. Darrin also removed the running boards that came on the 1940 Packards, which gave the Super-8 by Darrin's an ultra-modern look. The high $6,300 price tag of the 1940 Packard 180 Convertible Sedan by Darrin also most likely contributed to it being perhaps one of, if not, the rarest '40 Packard. While exact production figures are a bit fuzzy with regards to Darrin production, some believe 10 Convertible Sedans were built while others estimate production at a mere 5 or 6. Due to their exceptional style and extreme rarity, the CCCA considers all Darrin-bodied Packards to be Full Classics. This particular example comes to us most recently from a prominent collector of CCCA Full Classics who is believed to have acquired the car after it won several CCCA awards after a nearly 30 year restoration was finished and benefited from consultations with Howard "Dutch" Darrin himself while he was a retiree living in California. Powering this 1940 Packard Darrin is a 356 Cubic Inch L-Head Straight 8 cylinder engine fed by a single 2 barrel carburetor that together were said to have produced 160 horsepower when new. The 356 Inline 8 is backed by a 3 speed manual transmission with overdrive that is shifted via a column-mounted shifter. Exhaust exits this '40 Custom Super-Eight via a single chrome-tipped exhaust port. The chrome and brightwork, including the front and rear optional bumper guards, around this particular custom-bodied 1940 Packard 180 is in exceptional condition and looks as if the car is almost brand new. Likewise, the beige cloth convertible top and a glass rear window have an impeccable appearance and the Darrin Convertible Sedan is just as beautiful with the top up as it is with it down. The rear trunk area is finished quite nicely with Biscuit colored carpeting as well and, while even housing a spare tire, is surprisingly spacious for a luxury car of this era. The body by Darrin has been refinished in a gorgeous Laguna Maroon paint that completes the exceptionally elegant exterior appearance of this car. The interior on this Darrin-bodied 1940 Packard Custom Super-8 One-Eighty Convertible Sedan is absolutely stunning! The front and rear bench seats have been reupholstered is gorgeous Beige leather. The matching upholstered door panels, biscuit-colored carpeting, padded dash and steering wheel are all in fantastic condition and appear to remain in their stock configuration. The instrument cluster is equipped with a 120 MPH speedometer, temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, battery gauge, and fuel gauge. The dash also comes equipped with a locking glovebox with a clock integrated into its face. This 1940 Packard Darrin also comes outfitted with the optional AM radio and under-dash heater, both of which further add to the ultra-luxurious look and feel of this high-class pre-war Packard. Whether you're looking to add to your existing collection of custom-bodied CCCA Full Classics or you're buying your very first one and want the best of the best, this 1940 Packard Custom Super-8 One-Eighty Convertible Sedan by Darrin would make an excellent choice. Give Ellingson's a call today at 763-428-7337!

This 1940 Packard Custom Super-8 One-Eighty Convertible Sedan by Darrin is an absolute beauty and multi-time Classic Car Club of America award-winning automobile. After several promising years, by 1940, Packard was again struggling to keep up with its American automaker contemporaries. The economic conditions in the US at the time were looking fairly decent and trending upwards. The historically high unemployment levels from the Great Depression were seemingly in the rearview mirror and finally most Americans were again receiving pay checks. In fact, American automobile demand in 1940 was high and production rose over 30% nationwide from the levels reached in 1939. Nonetheless, Packard's production did not keep up with the rising demand and stayed on par with its 1939 levels. One possible explanation for Packard's sales woes can be attributed to the fact that, while classy, Packards lacked the modern styling that was being seen across seemingly the entire American automotive industry. Furthermore, the gap between America's premier luxury automakers, Cadillac and Packard, grew further apart due to Packard's new focus in the mid-level market now competing more with the likes of Buick and Mercury. In line with longstanding Packard tradition, the model lines were divided into the more moderately priced Junior Packards (i.e. the 110 and 120) and the premium, ultra-luxurious Senior Packards (i.e. the 160 and 180). With the Packard Twelve ceasing production following 1939, the most prestigious, most expensive Senior Packards available were the Custom Super-8 One-Eighty models. While a handful of the Custom Super-8 180 bodies were built by Packard itself, the rarest and most prestigious bodies were built by custom body manufacturers such as Rollston and Darrin. While the 1940 Packard Rollston bodies were essentially modified '39 Twelve bodies, the bodies by Darrin were completely new for 1940 and were thus highly promoted by Packard. While Packard heavily promoted the Darrin-bodied Custom Super-8 180s, their efforts were futile with production estimates floating around a total of 50, give or take a few, Packard Darrins built in 1940. Of course, the "Darrin" name came from famed automobile designer Howard "Dutch" Darrin whose team of skilled craftsman heavily modified or hand crafted virtually every aspect of the Darrin-styled bodies out of their Connersville, Indiana, production facility. Darrin lowered the front profile of the 1940 Darrin Bodied Packards, including the hoods, grilles, cowls, and windshields. The fenders were also enlarged giving off a more accentuated look. Darrin also removed the running boards that came on the 1940 Packards, which gave the Super-8 by Darrin's an ultra-modern look. The high $6,300 price tag of the 1940 Packard 180 Convertible Sedan by Darrin also most likely contributed to it being perhaps one of, if not, the rarest '40 Packard. While exact production figures are a bit fuzzy with regards to Darrin production, some believe 10 Convertible Sedans were built while others estimate production at a mere 5 or 6. Due to their exceptional style and extreme rarity, the CCCA considers all Darrin-bodied Packards to be Full Classics. This particular example comes to us most recently from a prominent collector of CCCA Full Classics who is believed to have acquired the car after it won several CCCA awards after a nearly 30 year restoration was finished and benefited from consultations with Howard "Dutch" Darrin himself while he was a retiree living in California. Powering this 1940 Packard Darrin is a 356 Cubic Inch L-Head Straight 8 cylinder engine fed by a single 2 barrel carburetor that together were said to have produced 160 horsepower when new. The 356 Inline 8 is backed by a 3 speed manual transmission with overdrive that is shifted via a column-mounted shifter. Exhaust exits this '40 Custom Super-Eight via a single chrome-tipped exhaust port. The chrome and brightwork, including the front and rear optional bumper guards, around this particular custom-bodied 1940 Packard 180 is in exceptional condition and looks as if the car is almost brand new. Likewise, the beige cloth convertible top and a glass rear window have an impeccable appearance and the Darrin Convertible Sedan is just as beautiful with the top up as it is with it down. The rear trunk area is finished quite nicely with Biscuit colored carpeting as well and, while even housing a spare tire, is surprisingly spacious for a luxury car of this era. The body by Darrin has been refinished in a gorgeous Laguna Maroon paint that completes the exceptionally elegant exterior appearance of this car. The interior on this Darrin-bodied 1940 Packard Custom Super-8 One-Eighty Convertible Sedan is absolutely stunning! The front and rear bench seats have been reupholstered is gorgeous Beige leather. The matching upholstered door panels, biscuit-colored carpeting, padded dash and steering wheel are all in fantastic condition and appear to remain in their stock configuration. The instrument cluster is equipped with a 120 MPH speedometer, temperature gauge, oil pressure gauge, battery gauge, and fuel gauge. The dash also comes equipped with a locking glovebox with a clock integrated into its face. This 1940 Packard Darrin also comes outfitted with the optional AM radio and under-dash heater, both of which further add to the ultra-luxurious look and feel of this high-class pre-war Packard. Whether you're looking to add to your existing collection of custom-bodied CCCA Full Classics or you're buying your very first one and want the best of the best, this 1940 Packard Custom Super-8 One-Eighty Convertible Sedan by Darrin would make an excellent choice. Give Ellingson's a call today at 763-428-7337!