1931 840 Roadster

Car information

1931 840 Roadster. This car was imported into Australia in 1995 from Connecticut (USA). It was very tired and rusty and with most wood either missing or rotted, but an original car requiring total restoration. The only history known of the car is that it was last owned by a collector in the USA for 25 years and was previously stored in the back of a Churchyard shed for a further 20 years by the then owner. Prior to that it was owned by a garage and was used as a ‘Pick-up’ and even as a towing vehicle. The car was very tired and worn out before it was retired. Eight years of endless hours of restoration on every mechanical part, along with the whole body re-wooded with Coach-wood, rust cut from panels and replaced, upholstered and painted to the car you see today. This rare vehicle has now been restored to the original beauty in enjoyed in the depression years of the 30’s in the USA.

The 1931 – 840 is based on a 140 inch wheel base and was the last roadster that Packard built – after this they were convertible coupes. It was during the depression and very few were built – only 154 in total – and only very few original cars survive. This is the only one in Australia. The 840 is a different car to the previous 6 and 7 series. It has a different manifold and head that was only available on the 734 speedster. It has auto-vacuum controlled bijur lubrication system and saw the last of the vacuum tank and being the first model with a fuel pump.

The 840 has been on the road since 2006 and has won many awards including National Concourse winner at several Packard National Rallies. What we have here is a wealthy man’s sports car of the 1930s in America brought back to life for generations to come, to enjoy and to admire.