1931 Packard StandardEight Series 833

Dietrich Body 5-Passenger Club Sedan

This 1931 Packard is the perfect car for someone interested in making money through finishing the cosmetic work on a restoration orfor a hobbyist looking for a less demanding restoration that could turn into a wonderful weekend driver.

This car was purchased from the estate of its previous owner after he passed away in the middle of the restoration. My health is now suffering after a recent pancreatic cancer diagnosis, so I am selling my inventory, including restorations such as this one, which are not complete.

Things to note about this restoration:

• The engine has been rebuilt at the cost of $8000.
• The radiator has also been re-cored at the cost of $1300.
• The glass on the car has been replaced where needed and new channels for the roll-up windows have been added to make operation as smooth as possible.
• The clutch has been replaced with a newly rebuilt clutch.
• Allfive wheelsfeature Lester wide-whitewall tires.
• The wheels have been restored and completed with hubcaps from Bill Hirsch Auto.

What still needs to be done to the car?

• Paint - This car is ready for paint. In fact, the front fenders and aprons are NOS (new old stock).
• Upholstery -I have saved allof the old upholstery for use as patterns. The garnish moldings have been glass blasted and are in epoxy primer ready for new wood graining.
• Top Insert - The top insert needs to be replaced.

1931 marked a very low year for Packard, both in terms of production and profit. In fact, production was halted on the 1931 Eight Series on June 17, 1931, and the new 1932 Ninth series was introduced on June 23.

This was a surprising development that puzzled the automobile industry,especiallyconsidering the NACC (National Automobile Chamber of Commerce) had agreed in January of 1931 to only introduce new models in November and December. Yet despite signing off on this resolution, the chamber's president, Alvan McCauley, agreed to let Packard bring its 1932 models to market almost either months earlier than previously agreed.

It seems that despite any resolutions from the industry at-large, business was still business, and for Packard that meant boosting sales in any way possible. Packard's managementhad thought pushing forward a new model would help its sluggish sales caused by the overall economic downturn of the Great Depression.

Unfortunately, the strategy backfired, causing dealers to have a glut of 1931 models that were made outdated months before they would have been otherwise. This debacle led to Packard demoting Roy E. J. Chamberlain from general sales manager, a position he held since the early 1920s, to distributor in Buffalo, N.Y.

Despite these problems, 1931 had its bright spots for Packard as well. It outsold its growing rival, Cadillac, by 3,397 cars, and forty beautiful new Packards appeared in a parade down Broadway in New York City for Wiley Post and Harry Garry, the celebrated round-the-world flyers. This recalled the brighter days of 1927, when Colonel Charles A. Lindbergh paraded in a Packard at a reception in Omaha.

Overallproduction for Packard fell dramatically from 28,386 cars in 1930 to only 12,922 in 1931. Making this an extremely rare and desirablemodel-year for Packard collectors.

Of the entire 1931 line, the 5-Passenger Club Sedan is probably the most attractive of the 4-door sedans. Sporting "Body No.466" originally designed by Dietrich, the car continued to look modern despite wearing a body styling that went back four years.

Low production numbers add to the rarity of a classic. Classic body lines and designer pedigree add to the desirability of a classic. That makes this 1931 Packard Standard 8 Series 833 Dietrich Body Club Sedan the perfection combination. It's a rare, desirable beauty.