Museum Receives Gift of 1948 Packard Super Eight Sedan

(WARREN, OHIO) - The National Packard Museum is proud to announce the arrival of its latest acquisition, an elegant 1948 Packard Super Eight 7-Passenger Sedan, a gift from Michael and Julia Cosgrove of Carey, Ohio. The car is in original, unrestored condition.

The 1948 Packards are significant as they were the luxury automaker’s first all-new Post War models and featured the streamlined, rounded body design called “Free flow Styling”. While panned by some automotive critics as bulky and unattractive, the all-new 1948 Packard was nevertheless named “Fashion Car of the Year” by the Fashion Academy of New York.

Packard Motor Car Company of Detroit introduced its Twenty-Second Series, Chassis 2222, Model 2277, Seven Passenger Sedan on September 8, 1947. Designed for either personal use or livery service, the spacious sedan featured a full rear seat, wide arm rests, plush upholstery, and two forward facing jump seats in the rear passenger compartment. With its extended 141-inch chassis and a custom body crafted by Henney of Freeport, Illinois, the car was powered by a new 327 cubic inch L-head straight eight engine that produced 145 horsepower at 3600 rpm. The car sold new for $3,500 ($43,000 in today’s dollars). Only 1,742 units of this model were produced that year.

This particular 1948 Packard Sedan has an interesting history to share with museum guests, having been used by the Bellevue Hotel in Washington, D.C. as a limousine for more than 30 years. During its long years in service, the elegant sedan shuttled United States Senators, Representatives, and other VIP guests to Capitol Hill from Union Station and Washington’s National Airport. This car was also used in Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton’s inaugural parades.

“One of the museum’s most important objectives is to tell the story of the historic vehicles and artifacts in our collection in an interesting and educational manner. If we accomplish this goal and engage our guests, we might inspire them to learn more about Packard history. The 1948 Packard sedan has a fascinating story to tell about our nation’s postwar culture and the political and diplomatic environment in Washington, D.C. Hopefully by telling these stories, we will offer guests a thought-provoking lesson in history that will ensure the Packard Legacy Endures.” said Mary Ann Porinchak, Executive Director.