1930 Packard 734 Speedster Boattail Runabout
Performance took center stage with this exclusive high-speed luxury automobile that could exceed 100 mph, making it one of America’s fastest production cars of 1930. The 734 Speedster represented Packard’s brief foray into the performance market, with only about 113 examples built across all body styles during its single year of production.
Five factory body styles were offered: the dramatic Boattail Runabout, the standard Runabout with rumble seat, Phaeton, Victoria, and Sedan.
The heart of the Speedster was a modified 385 cubic inch inline eight-cylinder engine producing up to 145 horsepower with the optional high-compression cylinder head. This L-head powerplant featured a Detroit Lubricator dual-throat carburetor and a special intake manifold designed for enhanced performance.
The chassis was based on a modified Standard Eight platform but was narrower, lower, and fitted with a shorter 135-inch wheelbase to improve handling and agility.
Despite its exceptional capabilities, Packard’s marketing team struggled to promote such a high-performance machine to their traditionally conservative luxury clientele, contributing to limited sales. Today these rare Speedsters rank among the most coveted Classic Era American automobiles.
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