1929 Packard 626 Speedster Roadster Eight

This 1929 Packard Eight is one of 70 Series 626 Speedster examples produced for the model year. Chassis 166984 features roadster bodywork and was delivered new to Carlyle Nibley, Inc. of Long Beach, California. It underwent a multi-year refurbishment that was completed in 2012 before being shown at the 2013 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and it was purchased by the current owner in 2016. The car is finished in Crimson Red over tan Connolly leather upholstery, and power comes from a 384.8ci L-head straight-eight paired with a three-speed manual transmission. Equipment includes mechanically actuated four-wheel drum brakes, 20” painted wire wheels with stainless steel spokes, a rear-mounted spare, a Goddess of Speed radiator mascot, a black convertible top, and a rumble seat. This Packard Speedster is now offered on dealer consignment with factory literature, refurbishment photos and records, Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance memorabilia, and a clean Florida title. The Speedster was developed by Packard chief engineer Jesse Gurney Vincent, who constructed four prototypes in 1927. The first production model, the 626 Speedster, featured Model 640 Custom Eight bodywork that was shortened by 14″ and restyled by Vincent D. Kaptur and Werner Gubitz. It was mounted on a Standard Eight 126″ wheelbase chassis along with a revised 384.8ci L-head straight-eight sourced from the Custom Eight lineup. The model was introduced in August 1928 with a list price of $5,000. Offered with both Roadster and Phaeton bodywork, approximately 70 Speedsters were produced for the model year. This example was disassembled and stripped to bare metal before it was repainted Crimson Red during the refurbishment. Equipment includes front and rear bumpers, a bright radiator shell, a Goddess of Speed radiator mascot, quadruple vents on each side of a centrally hinged hood, a tilt-out windshield, running boards, a black Stayfast top, and a single taillight cluster. Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Packard Club badges are affixed to the front bumper. The wire wheels feature body-color rims and hubs along with stainless steel spokes, and they are mounted with 7.00–20 Lester bias-ply whitewall tires. A matching spare wheel is stowed under a soft cover out back. Suspension incorporates solid axles, semi-elliptical leaf springs, and hydraulic lever arm shock absorbers at each end, while steering is via worm and sector. The car is also equipped with a Bijur central lubrication system. Stopping power is provided by mechanical drums at all four corners. The cockpit features a bench seat that was retrimmed in tan Connolly leather during the refurbishment, while matching upholstery covers the rear bulkhead and door panels. Equipment includes a rear storage cabinet and tan carpets. A Carlyle Nibley, Inc. plaque is affixed to the dashboard. The four-spoke steering wheel features hub-mounted controls, and it fronts a burl woodgrain dashboard housing a barrel-type speedometer, auxiliary gauges, and a Jaeger eight-day clock. The five-digit odometer shows 15 miles. Total mileage is unknown. The rumble seat is trimmed in matching tan Connolly leather. The 384.8ci L-head straight-eight was modified by the factory for the 626 Speedster with a high-lift camshaft, a high-compression cylinder head, and a vacuum booster pump for the 626 Speedster. Output was factory-rated at 130 horsepower, a 25-horsepower increase over the stock Custom Eight unit. The engine was rebuilt during the refurbishment, and photos taken during the work can be seen in the gallery. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a three-speed manual transmission. A collection of photos taken during the refurbishment is presented in the gallery along with factory literature, refurbishment records, and Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance memorabilia.