As with all other U.S. vehicle manufacturers, Packard automobile production for the 1942 model year was curtailed due to the war effort. Before all production ceased following the United States’ entry into World War II in December 1941, Packard managed to produce just 19,199 Eight models in six body styles: a business coupe, club sedan and touring sedan in the Special Eight series; a club sedan and touring sedan in the Custom Eight series; and a convertible coupe in the simply named Eight series. By Feb. 11, 1942, all automobile production took a back seat to war production as Packard and all other American automobile manufacturers joined the war effort by offering their knowledge, resources and industrialized mass production techniques to producing military vehicles and armaments. Twentieth Series Packard production—which were the company’s 1942 models—began in August 1941, and by the time the last Twentieth Series Packard rolled off the line in February, some 11,325 Packard Six models, 19,199 Packard Eight models, 2,580 Super Eight One-Sixty and just 672 Super Eight One-Eighty models had been built for a total of 33,776 Twentieth Series Packards.
The last 1942 Packard to roll off the line was a Junior model completed on Feb. 10, 1942. Written on a sign propped against the car’s windshield was “Here’s the last Packard ’til we win the war—It’s “all out” on engines to even the score!” On the day the last prewar Packard automobile rolled off the line, Packard had already produced 55,000 combat engines for the war effort.
The featured 1942 Packard Eight convertible coupe (Series 2021, Model 1599) is well-equipped with turn signals, automatic courtesy lights, electric clock and automatic cigarette lighter, all of which were standard for the model. It was sold new in Detroit and later uncovered in a residential garage in 1969 where it had been stowed since 1954. It spent the next 15 years stowed away elsewhere in the Motor City.
With just 21 similar cars known to exist, this Packard Eight convertible coupe is extremely rare today. According to Packard Automobile Co. records, 960 were produced during the 1942 model year.
The 1942 Packard Eight convertible coupe was the only car in the 1942 “Junior” lines (Packard Six and Packard Eight) to use the 127-inch wheelbase, which was otherwise reserved for the Super Eight One-Sixty and Super Eight One-Eighty “Senior” lines. It’s further unusual because Packard well-equipped this Eight model with Senior One-Sixty bumpers, grille guards, door handles and disk wheel covers. It’s further equipped with factory-installed directional turn signals and rocker splash panels instead of running boards. With automobile production going on hiatus during the war, parts inventory was dwindling and new parts were not being produced, so Packard probably built the last of the prewar models with what parts it had a surplus of as the company probably wanted to use up the parts it had in stock. That might explain why this 1942 Packard Eight was equipped with some components from a Senior line. Additionally, the car is fitted with optional sidemounts, a deluxe steering wheel and the rare radio antenna hood ornament.
The 1942 Packard Eight Series 2021, Model 1599 convertible coupe is also an unusual car in and of itself. In 1941, Packard debuted sleek, new styling on its all-new Clipper model. Clippers dropped the suitcase-style fenders generally found on cars of this era (including other Packards) with a more integrated fender design that flowed into the front doors. The new Clipper styling also visually and physically widened the bodies of Packards. Offered in 1941 as only a sedan priced at $1,420, the Clipper’s price point put it between the Junior One-Ten and One-Twenty models, and the Senior One-Sixty and One-Eighty models. Despite being priced higher than the Junior models, and having been introduced in April 1941—very late in the 1941 model year—an astounding 16,600 Clippers were sold. That figure compared favorably to the total number of lesser-priced One-Twenty models of all body types built (17,100 cars) and One-Ten models of all body types built (34,700 cars) for the full selling season.
For 1942, Packard employed the successful Clipper styling on most of its body types and across all lines. Exceptions that carried over the traditional 1941 body styling include the base-level taxi model in the Six series and many sedans in the upper-end Senior One-Sixty and One-Eighty lines, plus commercial Packards. In fact, all Packard convertibles retained the 1941 styling elements rather than the new Clipper design. As a result, this 1942 Packard Eight convertible doesn’t share body panels with the Clipper-styled Special and Custom models also in the Eight series.
Although styling was mixed with old and new elements in the 1942 Packard Eight series, all were produced with Packard’s 282-cid L-head straight-eight engine with an oil filter, a selective synchro-meshed three-speed on the column with overdrive and a 4.36 rear axle. The engine was rated at 125 hp, and crankcase capacity 5-1/2 quarts.
This car’s original color is Packard Ivory contrasted by a red leather interior and a black convertible top. It sold new for $1,531 before options.
When Dr. Charles Colombo was young, his father bought a 1940 Packard coupe. Over the years, the youngster grew fond of the family Packard and vowed to follow in his father’s footsteps and buy a Packard of his own one day. In 1986, his dream finally became a reality when he added this ’42 Packard Eight convertible to his automobile collection. He purchased it from a private seller in Rochester, Mich. The car was in rough condition after years of use as a daily driver, then more time in long-term storage. Soon after taking ownership of the neglected Packard, Dr. Colombo reached out to Henry Seitz, a respected automobile restorer in the Detroit area, to have the automobile added to Seitz’s restoration schedule. The restoration process began in 1990 and was completed in time for the ’42 Packard convertible to debut at the 1994 Meadow Brook Concours d’ Elegance. After its debut, the car returned to Complete Restorations, a shop in St. Clair, Mich., where Seitz fine-tuned the ’42 Packard convertible in preparation for subsequent appearances at other highly regarded automobile events.
Since its restoration, the ’42 Packard convertible has appeared at additional prestigious events in the Detroit area, including the Eyes on Design event. Dr. Colombo is especially proud of the Best in Class award his ’42 Packard convertible coupe received at the Packard Automobile Club (PAC) car show event in 2013.
Held each year at the historical Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site in Shelby Township, Mich., the popular Cars ‘R’ Stars Car Show at the proving grounds hosts all makes, models and model years of collector and special-interest cars and also includes a swap meet. Packard vehicles, including many owned by Motor City Packards members, are well-represented.
The annual Cars ‘R’ Stars Car Show allows participants and showgoers the unique opportunity of exploring the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site and witness the extraordinary progress that has been made to the restoration and upkeep of this historic property. The proving grounds features buildings designed by noted industrial architect Albert Kahn, and in addition to its importance to Packard history, the facility was also used by Chrysler Corp. to test tanks during World War II. Earning a Best in Class at the event is a great honor for a Packard owner since judging is conducted by PAC members who are experts in Packard automobiles and how they were originally built.
Dr. Columbo plans to attend the 2024 Cars ‘R’ Stars Car Show with his 1942 Packard once again in 2024. Nearly 30 years after its restoration, his 1942 Packard Eight convertible shows no signs of being restored nearly three decades ago. The paint remains flawless, panels are laser straight and the 282-cid straight-engine performs flawlessly.
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