1948 Packard Super Eight Convertible Victoria
Packard’s first completely new postwar design arrived on July 25, 1947, as the 22nd Series. Styled by Packard’s in-house design staff under John Reinhart and built by Briggs Manufacturing Company, the contemporary slab-sided bodywork incorporated a horizontal interpretation of Packard’s traditional grille.
The convertible victoria entered production early in the run, restoring a body style absent from the catalog during wartime restrictions.
The Fashion Academy of New York recognized the design as Fashion Car of the Year, followed by awards at international exhibitions in cities including Caracas, Lucerne, Sofia, and Monte Carlo.
Independent coil-spring front suspension and a live rear axle with semi-elliptic leaf springs provided the chassis foundation. Four-wheel hydraulic drum brakes handled stopping duties.
Super Eight models employed the larger 327 cubic-inch L-head inline eight-cylinder engine producing 145 bhp, mounted on the 120-inch wheelbase chassis shared with Standard and Deluxe Eight variants. A three-speed manual transmission with optional R-9 overdrive enabled relaxed highway cruising.
The combination delivered stronger performance than smaller-displacement Packards while preserving the marque’s characteristic refinement.
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