1937 Super Eight 1500 Tourer

Car information

1937 Super 8 1500 Tourer. Style 1003 & body no. 1031. A total of 2322 1500 series cars were built, (of which about 200 were RHD) and this RHD car was shipped to England and sold by the English Packard Distributor, Leonard Williams Ltd Co. in London on December 1, 1937. It was delivered to the Court of St. James for use as a staff car by the United States Embassy. The original owner was The United States Embassy in England. The car was optioned with chromed French Marshal Aerolux headlights, a bumper mounted centre foglight, Trafficator semaphore turn signals, trunk rack and an RCA radio. Shortly after delivery, President Franklin Roosevelt appointed Joseph P. Kennedy (father of JFK) to the post of U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain. The Kennedy family arrived in England in March, 1938. This car was used by Mr. Kennedy in his official capacity as Ambassador.

Cost when new U$2,480. Warranty was 90 days or 4000 miles. Weight 4,530 lbs, Wheelbase 127 inches, overall length (excl Luggage Rack) 216.5 inches. The colour is Berkshire Green. Tyre Size 7.50×16. Suspension: Front Independent Coil Springs, leaf springs at rear. Brakes: Bendix Hydraulic 12 inch Drums. Engine: 9 bearing, 320 Cubic Inch Straight Eight, 6.5 to 1 compression, 135 hp @3200 rpm, weighing 992 lb with clutch & transmission. Bore/Stroke: 3 3/16 x 5 inches. Gearbox: 3 forward (no synchromesh on 1ST) & reverse. Differential Ratio: 4.69. Torque was 225 ft.lbs. at 1800 RPM. A Piston weighs 18.7 ozs, a Conrod weighs 2lbs8 ozs, the Crankshaft weighs 97.5 lb and the flywheel 50 lb. Cooling system is non pressurised with thermostatic operated radiator shutters. It is 6 volts,positive earth. The fuel tank holds 25 US Gallons.