1929 Packard Model 640 Custom Eight Roadster
Large oval headlights marked only the 1929 Packard lineup, making these Sixth Series models instantly distinguishable from other Classic-era Packards. The Custom Eight 640 Roadster rode on a 140.5-inch wheelbase (an unusually long platform for essentially two-seat coachwork), yet designers achieved elegant proportions through long hoods and sweeping fenders accented by a drop molding along the beltline.
Power came from a 385-cubic-inch inline eight-cylinder engine producing 106 horsepower at 3,200 rpm. Nine main bearings and a rigid one-piece cylinder block contributed to remarkably smooth and quiet operation that impressed even the discerning European automotive press.
The timing proved significant: 1929 marked Packard’s best sales year, with approximately $107 million in revenue before the October stock market crash. That economic context makes these Sixth Series models particularly representative of pre-Depression prosperity. Most examples featured rumble seats, and many carried optional side-mounted spare wheels and period accessories such as Trippe driving lights.
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