The patrician Packard straight eights are amongst the most coveted of all American classics, with superb engineering, wonderful styling and a build quality of the highest standard - for years the Packard was in a class of its own. That Packard were able to survive the Great Depression, a time when huge numbers of automobile manufacturers disappeared, and managed to sell relatively large numbers abroad is further proof of the inherent quality found in these cars. By the mid-1930s, with the luxury car market in general decline, Packard decided to expand their range to include a new mid-level model. Known as the 120, the new car was introduced in 1935 with the L-head straight eight and an extensive range of body styles catalogued. For 1938, the 120 was known simply as the Eight and the Sixteenth series chassis was introduced on the 20th of September, 1937. The standard wheelbase was slightly longer than the 120, at 127-inches, again using an extremely rigid X-member frame with advanced suspension and hydraulic brakes. Changes included a new grille and bonnet, more rounded lines and a ?V? windscreen. The 1601 Eight was offered with a range of body styles including the touring sedan, club coupe, convertible sedan, business coupe, convertible coupe and Deluxe touring sedan. The Eight was powered by a 282-cid straight eight developing 120 horsepower at 3800 rpm and 22,700 units were made, reflecting a general downturn in sales. Packard's customers were a loyal bunch and this was reflected in their advertising slogan of the era, namely "Ask the man who owns one".

This 1938 Packard Eight was built to right-hand drive configuration on the sixteenth series chassis and features original Touring Sedan coachwork with twin side-mounts. The Packard is believed to have spent some time in Melbourne as a hire car before the war and spent twenty years with the previous owner in Sydney, in whose hands it was renovated to the present condition. The motor was replaced with a 1937 unit at some point and recent work has seen a new head gasket fitted and the water pump replaced. The Packard is in lovely original condition throughout, with great patina, and even features a period under-dash radio. The vehicle is offered for sale with full registration in New South Wales until May 2010, comes with an owner's manual and is showing 91,552 miles on the clock.