1925 Packard Eight Series 236 Sport Phaeton

• One of America's finest automobiles of the pre-war era
• 5.9-litre engine
• Four-wheel brakes
• Restored condition

Always built to the highest standards, the Packard was unquestionably one of the finest American automobiles of the pre-war era. Right from the moment the first car emerged in November 1899, Packard's innovative engineering and superior build quality attracted the attention of wealthy clients. Indeed, throughout the 1910s and 1920s, Packard ranked alongside Peerless and Pierce-Arrow, this elite trio of the US automobile industry being known as the 'Three P's'.

Dissatisfaction with his Winton motor carriage is said to have spurred James Ward Packard to build a superior automobile. Aided by his brother and two defectors from the Winton company, Packard set up shop in his electrical engineering factory in Warren, Ohio, from which the first Packard car – the Model A runabout - emerged in November 1899. The Packard's innovative engineering and superior build quality were soon attracting the attention of wealthy clients, William D Rockefeller purchasing two at the New York Automobile Show in November 1900. 'Ask The Man Who Owns One' was adopted as the company's advertising slogan.

First introduced in 1924, the Eight was the first Packard to employ four-wheel brakes. The nine-bearing, sidevalve, straight-eight engine developed 85bhp from 5.9 litres, and the line-up initially comprised ten models on two wheelbase lengths. The secret of Packard's success was tight quality control and the use of only the best materials, and the company made great play of the fact that almost everything was manufactured in house, declaring: "Packard cars are designed by Packard engineers and built by Packard men. Packard engineering and Packard parts and cannot be found in any other motor car."

Representing the best the US auto industry had to offer in 1925 has been restored (date unknown) and is described by our vendor as in overall very good cosmetic condition, while the transmission and electrics are said to be in working order. The engine is free and turns over and fires, but will not idle; accordingly the car is sold strictly as viewed. The front numberplate appears to be of New Zealand origin. Offered with a V5C document.