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1937→1938 Packard Eight Model 1601

1937→1938 Packard Eight Model 1601

For 1938 the One Twenty was briefly redesignated as the Eight with a 127 inch wheel base for the Model 1601 and 138 inch wheel base for the Model 1602.

New in 1938 was an all-steel construction in the body manufacture that made the cars somewhat heavier than the 1937 models.

A new styling trend for the 1938 model year was a small chrome strip that split the front windshield and ran onto the roof.

Body types available on the Eight Model 1601 included the Business Coupe, 2-door Touring Sedan, 4-door Touring Sedan, Convertible Coupe, Convertible Sedan, and Touring Sedan Deluxe.

Sources & Further Reading

1. Kimes, Bevely Rae.Packard. A History of the Motor Car and the Company..Automobile Quarterly: 1978.
2. Coachbuilt.com.Darrin of Paris, 1937-1939

1938 Packard Eight Model 1601 Gallery

See full 1938 Packard Eight Model 1601 Gallery here

1938_Packard_EightModel1601-0-1024

In Detail

type Series Production Car
production years 1937 – 1938
built at Detroit, Michigan, USA
predeccesor 1937 Packard One Twenty Model 120-C
succeccesor 1939 Packard One Twenty Model 1701
engine Inline-8 w/L-Cylinder Head
position Front Longitudinal
aspiration Natural
ignition Auto-Lite Single Breaker Distibutor
block material Cast Iron w/Aluminum Cylinder Head
valvetrain Side Valves
fuel feed Downdraft Stromberg EE-14
displacement 4621 cc / 282 in³
bore 82.5 mm / 3.25 in
stroke 114.3 mm / 4.5 in
compression 6.6:1
power 89.5 kw / 120 bhp @ 3600 rpm
specific output 25.97 bhp per litre
torque 305.1 nm / 225 ft lbs @ 1500 rpm
body / frame Steel Body over Steel Ladder-Type Chassis
driven wheels RWD
wheel type 16-Inch Steel Disc
steering Worm & Roller
f suspension Parallel Arm w/Coil Springs, Delco Shock Aborbers
r suspension Solid Axle w/Semi-Elliptic Leaf Springs, Delco Shock Absorbers, Anti-Roll Bar
wheelbase 3226 mm / 127 in
front track 1498 mm / 59 in
rear track 1524 mm / 60 in
transmission 3-Speed Manual
final drive 4.09:1