1948 Packards - General

Packard did not adhere to conventional model year coding until 1951.  The  models called "1948" were built from August, 1947, through May, 1949 and were considered Series 22. The first of these Packards appeared in August 1947 as convertibles. The 1948-1949 Packard models were one of the first all new post-war cars that went to market. 

Appearance changes included a longer hood; "ox-yoke" shaped upper grille; full-width, wraparound lower grille; a pair of simplified, vertical front bumper guards; and smoother, rounded body lines, often referred to as the "inverted bathtub" or "soap bar" look.

The new Packard body styling was awarded a "Fashion Car of the Year" gold medal by the New York Fashion Academy. At exhibits throughout the world in 1947-48, the new Custom Victoria Convertible Coupe was honored for its advanced styling. A dashboard with black-lighted 'Flite-Glo' instrumentation was a new feature, and tool kits were provided with each new Packard sold.

On April 19, 1948, Chairman Alvan Macauley retired. He had served as Packard president from 1916 to 1938 and chairman from 1938 to 1948. George T. Christopher moved from the position of company president to replace him.

1948 Series 22 Cars - Produced through December 31, 1948
A total of 1,317 1948 Taxicabs and 1,927 1948 export (6 cylinder) units were constructed. The six-cylinder was no longer available to the American public. Remembering that Packard did not differentiate between cars sold in the model year and actual year models, production gets muddy. As of December 1948, 87,281 Series 22 cars were produced.

1948 Series 22 Cars - Produced from January 1,1949 through April 30, 1949
An additional 43,575 Series 22 Cars were built in this period. They were sold as 1949 models, but were no different from the 1948 cars in any detail, hence many count them as 1948 cars. Since we count cars in the model year run, we have included them both here and in the factoid for 1949.

Thus, though the 1948 total production of 22nd Series models was 140,856 cars, this included 1949 Models sold in the 1948 model year. 1948 Model production actually totaled 87,281. 1948 Calendar year sales of 98,898 Packards (including some 1947 models but at close of 1948) was good for the 14th rank in industry.

Packard Models -

1948 Standard Eight and DeLuxe Eight (8-CYL) - SERIES 22
Standard Eights were the base model (except for six-cylinder Taxi and export only models which were still offered) and came in two versions; a club sedan or a touring sedan. They had the plainest Packard hood ornament, single rocker panel strips, upper belt moldings running from below the front vent panes to the rear, and no lower belt moldings at mid body level as did the more expensive models.

An all-steel "Station Sedan" (wagon) was available as a Standard Eight model only. It it was trimmed with genuine Northern Birch wood body paneling that was a structural member only in the tailgate region.

DeLuxe Eights were the same basic cars as the Standard Eight with extra exterior trim and some better interior appointments that were also fitted to the Super Eights. DeLuxe Eights had more elaborate, horizontally 'veed' hood ornaments with disc-shaped protrusions at the forward tip. These new ornaments were called "Winged Goddesses". DeLuxe Eights were also fitted with fancier wheel trim treatments.

1948 Super Eight (8-CYL) - SERIES 22
Packard's middle line cars had richer interior appointments and streamlined 'Goddess of Speed' hood ornaments. Exterior trim was little different than that of the Standard Eights, except for the Super DeLuxe sedan, which was trimmed in the manner of the DeLuxe Eight. There were also more extensive taillamps, with short chrome divider bars on the lenses.

Three sub-series were numbered. The first included club and touring sedans on a 120" wheelbase chassis. The second featured four body styles on an extended 141" wheelbase.

An all-new Super Eight Victoria Convertible Coupe was the third entry and Packard's first open car since 1942. The Super convertible had single rocker panel strips and fender skirts were standard. It was built off the 120" platform.

1948 Custom Eight (8-CYL) - SERIES 22
Packard's luxury line had the highest horsepower output, but due their larger size, not the highest power to weight ratio. Egg-crate style grille insert designs were exclusive to these cars and a beauty panel, of similar patterning stretched across the lower rear body to encase the taillamps with its bright metal gridwork. Rear wheel fender skirts were standard equipment and double rocker panel trim strips ran the full length of the body sides. A graceful, vertical cormorant mascot was this model's hood ornament.

Interiors were done in rich cloth and leather combinations; all leather on the Custom Eight Victoria convertible coupe. The standard Custom wheelbase was 127", however seven other passenger styles used a 148" wheelbase.

Engines

• Taxi  and Export Six. Inline L-head Six: Displacement: 245.3 cid. Bore and stroke: 3.50" x 4.25". Compression ratio: 6.7:1. Horsepower: 105 @ 3600 RPM. Four main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter Type WA1 one-barrel Model 530S.
  
  
• Standard and DeLuxe Eight. Inline, L-Head Eight. Cast iron block. Displacement: 288 cid. Bore and stroke: 3.50" x 3.75". Compression ratio: 7.0:1. Brake horsepower: 135 @ 3600 RPM. Five main bearings. Solid valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter Type WDO two-barrel Model 644S.
  
  
• Super Eight. Inline, L-Head Eight. Cast iron block. Displacement: 327 cid. Bore and stroke: 3.5" x 4.25" inches. Compression ratio: 7.0:1. Brake horsepower: 150 @ 3600 RPM. Solid valve lifters. Five main bearings. Carburetor: Carter Type WDO two-barrel Model 643A.
  
• Custom Eight. Inline, L-Head Eight. Cast iron block. Displacement: 356 cid. Bore and stroke: 3.5" x 4.625". Compression ratio: 7.0:1. Brake horsepower: 165 @ 3600 RPM. Nine main bearings. Hydraulic valve lifters. Carburetor: Carter Type WDO two-barrel Model 531S or 531A.

Rear Ale Ratios included: 3.54:1. 3.90:1, 4.09:1, 4.1:1 and 4.36:1.

Significant Options

• Overdrive ($87). "
• Electromatic" clutch with overdrive ($123).
• Oil bath air cleaner (standard on Super and Custom).
• "Comfort-Aire" ventilation system.
• Radio.
• Cowl mount radio antenna.
• Rear fender skirts (standard on Custom and both convertibles).
• Rear master bumper guards and protection rail.
• Front master bumper guard assembly.
• Exhaust pipe chrome extensions.
• License plate frames.
• Front fog lamps.
• Outside rear view mirror (left-hand or/and right-hand).
• Wheel trim rings.
• White sidewall tires.
  

Chassis

• Wheelbase: Series 2201, 2211, 2202, and 2232 = 120"; Series 2222 = 141"; Series 2206 and 2233 = 127"; Series 2233 = 148".
  
  
• Overall length: Series 2201, 2211, 2202, and 2232 = 204.625"; Series 2222 = 225.625"; Series 2206 and 2233 = 215.625"; Series 2226 = 233.625".
  
  
• Front tread: Standard/DeLuxe) = 59.6875"; Super = 59.594"; Custom = 60.094".
  
  
• Rear tread: Standard/DeLuxe = 60.469"; Super = 60.719"; Custom = 60.74".
  
  
• Tires: Standard/DeLuxe - 6.50 x 16; Super - 7.60 x 15; Super seven-passenger - 7.00 x 15; Custom 8.20 x 15; Custom seven-passenger - 7.00 x 16.