- Stylish Dietrich-designed Phaeton with impressive Packard power
- Last year for the mighty 384-cid straight-eight engine
- A resident of the West Coast for the majority of its life
- A Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) Full Classic®
LOT 642
Selling on Saturday Evening
1936 Packard 1404 Super Eight Phaeton
By 1936, Packard had firmly established itself as America's preeminent luxury automaker, a marque synonymous with elegance, engineering excellence, and old-money prestige. Founded in 1899 in Warren, Ohio, and relocated to Detroit by 1903, Packard quickly earned a reputation for technological innovation and build quality. Through the 1920s and early 1930s, Packard led the luxury field with smooth inline-eight engines, advanced chassis engineering, and a level of refinement unmatched by its competitors. Despite the economic headwinds of the Great Depression, Packard remained resilient by expanding its lineup and introducing the more affordable "junior" series while still catering to elite clientele with its prestigious Twelve and Super Eight models.
The 1936 Packard Super Eight Series 1404 sat proudly in the upper tier of the lineup and was powered by a silky 384-cubic-inch straight-eight engine delivering 150 horsepower. Built on a 139-inch wheelbase chassis, the Super Eight combined luxury and performance with Packard's hallmark ride quality, courtesy of its advanced suspension system and impeccable craftsmanship. The open Phaeton body style was both stylish and practical, with full open-air seating.
The Series 1404 was part of Packard's 14th Series, denoting the brand's annual model progression, and marked a subtle but significant shift toward more modern design. While still exhibiting the grand proportions of early-1930s luxury cars, the 1936 Super Eight showed smoother fender lines, a gently raked grille, and refined Art Deco influences. It stood as a transitional design, bridging the ornate pre-Depression Packards with the streamlined offerings to come. Fewer than 5,100 Super Eights were produced for 1936 across all body styles, making open Phaeton examples rare today. The 1404 remains a crowning example of Packard's ability to deliver stately luxury with enduring mechanical integrity.
Sold new by the Packard Motor Car Company of Boston, this Packard would eventually make its way to the West Coast where it would spend the majority of its life from 1970 to 2024. Restored in the 1970s in Hollywood, California by Tom Sparks, it was acquired by a noted Fullerton, California collector in 2015 before the consignor took ownership from him and welcomed this Phaeton into his impressive climate-controlled collection setting.
Finished in a subtle gray with orange pinstripes along the belt line and wheel arches, it exudes wealth and elegance in a grand package. Beauty options include a "Daphne at the well" radiator mascot, a windshield-mounted C.M. Hall spotlight, wind wings, dual side mirrors, a fold-down rear luggage rack and 17-inch chrome wire wheels wrapped in blackwall tires. Powered by a replacement 384-cubic-inch L-head inline eight-cylinder engine that breathes through a dual-throat downdraft carburetor and paired with a three-speed manual transmission with synchromesh, it is the ideal example for classic car touring. Stamped with engine number 755694, the block falls in line with 1935 models.
With its proven mechanicals, this Super Eight offers the perfect blend of elegance and usability for collector car touring events. Carefully preserved and collector owned, it is an ideal candidate for those who want to drive and enjoy a true pre-war luxury car with impressive Packard "whisper quiet" performance. Eye-catching from every angle with its stunning open coachwork, it is sure to be a welcome participant in virtually any event.
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