1932 Packard 900 Light Eight Roadster Coupe
Packard introduced the Model 900 Light Eight as a direct response to the Depression, pitching it to buyers who could no longer justify the expense of its larger models.
“We are offering a car that can be purchased out of income and not capital,” the company declared (an unusual admission for a marque of Packard’s standing).
The strategy backfired: build quality remained high for the price point, limiting its appeal to new buyers, while existing clients who did purchase one typically did so in place of a more expensive Packard. The Light Eight survived just a single model year.
Chief designer Werner Gubitz gave the car genuinely modern coachwork, with sweeping lines anchored by a distinctive “shovel nose” radiator that set it apart from Packard’s more traditional offerings.
Four body styles were offered (two sedans and two coupes), of which the Roadster Coupe accounted for roughly 1,000 of the approximately 6,750 Light Eights produced and carries the most sporting proportions.
Power comes from a 320 cubic-inch L-head straight-eight producing 110 horsepower, good for a top speed of around 75 mph. Despite its one-year production run and Depression-era origins, the Light Eight is regarded as one of the more rewarding pre-war Packards to drive.
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