1941 Packard Super Eight One-Eighty Touring Limousine
LeBaron constructed just 51 of these formal touring limousines for Packard’s 19th Series, representing some of the final coachbuilt bodies produced before American custom coachbuilding largely disappeared.
By 1941, LeBaron had become a division of Briggs but continued creating hand-built bodies in limited quantities for discerning clients who required chauffeur-driven transportation.
The imposing bodywork rode on a 148-inch wheelbase and featured leather upholstery in the driver’s compartment with wool broadcloth in the rear passenger area. Despite its considerable size, the limousine demonstrated surprising road capability thanks to independent front suspension and four-wheel hydraulic brakes.
Packard’s 356 cubic inch straight-eight engine delivered 160 horsepower at 3,600 RPM through a three-speed manual transmission. The substantial torque output proved particularly useful given the vehicle’s mass and construction.
These One-Eighty models represented Packard’s top-of-the-line offerings during the final years before wartime production halted civilian automobile manufacturing. The limited production numbers and specialized coachwork make surviving examples particularly rare among late prewar Packards.
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