Packard Eight History

Packard introduced its 'Single Eight' on June 14, 1923 (as a 1924 model), replacing the earlier Twin Six with a more efficient L-head straight-eight on a long chassis with four-wheel brakes. Renamed simply the Eight, it became Packard's mainstream senior car through the 1920s and into the 1930s.

The smooth, durable inline-eight defined Packard's character for a generation and was widely regarded as one of the finest American engines of its day. The Eight was produced from 1924 through 1936, then returned for one final year in 1938. Above it Packard offered the costlier Super Eight, and above that the V12 Twelve, giving the marque a complete luxury hierarchy.