1941 Packard Custom Super Eight One Eighty Convertible Victoria (more pics 👇)
Designer Howard “Dutch” Darrin created one of the most distinctive Packards when he adapted his Hollywood-inspired styling for limited production between 1940 and 1942.
The 1941 Convertible Victoria represented the design’s refinement, incorporating Clipper-inspired front-end styling with headlamps fully integrated into the fenders.
Darrin’s signature elements included an extended hood line, a dramatically low V-shaped windshield, and cut-down doors featuring the celebrated “Darrin dip” (a subtle downward curve in the beltline).
Production moved to Sayers & Scovill in Cincinnati, Ohio, where just 35 examples were hand-built to individual customer specifications in 1941.
Each rode on the Custom Super Eight One Eighty’s 138-inch wheelbase chassis, powered by Packard’s 356-cubic-inch L-head inline-eight producing 160 horsepower.
The three-speed manual transmission was often equipped with overdrive, while independent front suspension with coil springs provided refined handling.
These automobiles combined Hollywood glamour with Packard’s engineering excellence, becoming the flagship Custom Super Eight One Eighty’s most desirable body style.
The Convertible Victoria’s rarity (with only about a dozen known survivors from 1941 production) and dramatic styling have made it among the most sought-after Packards of the prewar period.
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