Gardner Series Eight History

Gardner introduced straight-eight models for 1925, again sourcing engines from Lycoming. The entry Series 75 used a 226 cu in (3.7 L) L-head inline-eight rated at 65 bhp; the Series 80, on the same displacement, produced 70 bhp by 1927 with improved breathing. The prestigious Series 90 stepped up to a 298 cu in (4.9 L) L-head eight — 75 hp in 1927 and 84 hp in 1928 — and was distinguished by a notably rich interior: silver-finished hardware, silk window curtains, walnut woodwork, and mohair upholstery.

From 1926 through 1929 Gardner sold only straight-eight cars in the United States, staking its identity on refinement at a time when the inline-eight still conveyed prestige. The range at its widest spanned Series 75, 80, 85, 90, and 95 designations across open and closed body styles. The 1928 Series 8-80 Roadster — a low, rakish open car — is among the most collectible Gardners known to survive.

For 1930 and 1931 the top offering became the Series 150, powered by a Lycoming inline-eight producing 126 bhp — the most powerful engine Gardner ever installed. The Depression eliminated demand: the stock-market crash of late 1929 also killed planned distribution partnerships with Sears Roebuck and New Era Motors, depriving Gardner of the volume it needed to survive. The company had been unprofitable since 1927, and by mid-1931 automobile production had ceased.