1929 Packard 645 Deluxe Eight Sport Phaeton
The Dual Cowl Sport Phaeton was among the most visually commanding body styles available on Packard’s long-wheelbase 645 Deluxe Eight chassis, and the example here carries coachwork by Raymond Dietrich, one of the foremost names in American custom body design of the period.
Built on a 145.5-inch wheelbase, the 645 was Packard’s flagship chassis for 1929, designed from the outset to accommodate the kind of extravagant coachwork that defined the Sixth Series at its upper reaches.
A long hood, sweeping fenders, and Dietrich’s characteristic proportions give the car an imposing presence that few contemporaries could match.
The dual-cowl configuration, with a secondary windscreen for rear passengers, was a hallmark of open touring coachwork at its most formal.
Power comes from a 384.8 CI L-head inline eight through a three-speed manual transmission. The Sixth Series brought several mechanical refinements to the platform, including an automatic chassis lubrication system to reduce maintenance intervals, a dashboard-mounted coolant temperature gauge (moved from the radiator cap), and a revised shift lever position that freed up interior room.
Suspension was handled by Packard’s “Safe-T-Flex” system with Bijur centralized lubrication, designed to improve ride quality and durability. Of the 2,061 Deluxe Eights produced in 1929, the Sport Phaeton stands as one of the more sought-after body styles among Full Classic collectors.
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