It always started, and you never felt that it would not get you home. Eva Franchi recalls, 'We used this car in many CCCA Caravans.

It was a favored tour car of Franchi and with the sure, smooth performance of the Packard Eight and comfort of the Graber body, it's not surprising. An older restoration, it shows some evidence of wear and use but is quite presentable and certainly striking. The interior is clean, simple and comfortable, with elegant engine-turned instrument panel and dual glove boxes. A pair of chrome strips mimics the traditional leather straps on the rounded trunk. A chrome spear sweeps down the side from the radiator grill to the rear fender and large, chromed piano hinges support the doors at the rear edge. However, the unusual details on the body immediately caught his attention and he knew it was something special.įinished in an attractive two-tone blue combination, this car is distinguished by a bold use of brightwork. He was advised by a friend to pass on it as it was 'only' a straight Eight. This rare Graber-bodied Packard was found by Franchi in London in 1972. Graber designed and built over 800 bodies on chassis from Alvis, Aston Martin, Bentley, Bugatti, Duesenberg, Lagonda, Packard, Rolls-Royce, Rover and others. He quickly became known for his conservative, elegant designs, especially on coupe and convertible bodies. His success was assured by a first place win in 1929 by a Graber bodied Panhard-Levassor at the St. There were seventeen different body styles available, all of which were effectively marketed to the American public who responded by spending nearly $20,000,000 on new 1933 Packards and, though not phenomenal, it was impressive that Packard was able to claim a profit during such trying economic times.Ĭarosserie Graber was founded in 1925 by Hermann Graber near Bern, Switzerland. Wire wheels now became standard with discs and wood wheels becoming optional. A dual downdraft carburetor, smaller flywheel, automatic choke and revised manifold helped boost the trademark Eight's horsepower to over 120. In 1933 the Packard Standard Eight became known as simply the Eight. The design was a simple side valve (L-head) of the highest quality with a light alloy crankcase with the crankshaft running in nine Bearings, giving a smooth and effortless performance. The eight cylinder engine that Packard had revealed in 1923 as a successor to the V12 provided the backbone of Packard's future production, lasting to the end of the 1930s. The progression to the Standard and Super Eights was also in true Packard style and it was no wonder that the customers always returned. From the early four and six cylinder cars to the revolutionary twelve cylinder twin six, Packard's engines were well-crafted, designed and executed. They were known for consistently refining and making improvements on their power plants. Packard's continued success was due in part to the strength of their engine design. From its inception, the Packard Motor Car Company became one of the most well-regarded companies of the early twentieth century, and perhaps the greatest credit to its success was the nearly unmatched return client sales and devotion the company had so effectively nurtured. The company's reputation was founded upon fine engineering and cars built to last. By 1903, with a new factory in Detroit, Packard was rapidly becoming one of America's leading car manufacturers. Dissatisfied with it, Packard decided to design and build his own car. In 1898 James Ward Packard, an electric lamp manufacturer from Warren, Ohio, bought his first motor car, a Winton. 1933 PACKARD STANDARD EIGHT VICTORIA CABRIOLETīlue over French blue with tan canvas top and beige leather interiorĮngine: L-head, straight eight, 319.2ci, 120bhp at 3,200rpm Gearbox: three speed synchromesh Suspension: leaf springs all around Brakes: mechanical drums all around.

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