Cruisin Classics is excited and proud to introduce to you this simply spectacular 1932 Packard Model 902 Standard Eight Coupe. Though one of the more affordable offerings in the Packard line ($2,655-3,450 when new) this coupe is like all Packards – luxury cars that were highly refined, fitted with luxurious coachwork, and powered by proven engineering. We actually have a copy of the sales agreement from when this Packard was sold used in 1933 (just a year and a half after its production) by Washington Motors in Newton Massachussetts to a Mr. Ralph Laffey for $1,650 – it's amazing to see! This would have most certainly been a car for the upper class, in a whole different category than the Fords, Dodges, and Chevrolets of the day. Ninety-two years ago only 3,737 of these 902 coupes were made, making them quite rare today. This particular car comes with an appraisal from 2008 valuing it at $105,000 when it was in Ontario Canada. The most recent owner of this beautiful machine bought it in 2015 and immediately got started with restoration work that took several years to complete. We have a 3-ring binder filled with receipts that total $77,622.41 from 2015 to present. The engine and transmission were both rebuilt, the car was disassembled, the wiring was redone, the chrome was redone ($11,300 just for re-chroming), and the manifolds were coated in porcelain, and this just scratches the surface! The restoration was extensive, to say the least. The result of all of that work that sits before us today is an absolutely gorgeous example of a 1932 luxury automobile.
This Packard Coupe is dressed in an exceptionally nice two-tone green paint job with tasteful red pinstriping on the raised darker green portions. While the paintwork is excellent, it does still have a few minor imperfections that can be found if you're looking for them. Dazzling bright chrome is abundant and it begins up front with an enormous grille with vertical bars. The grille features a large and iconic "Goddess of Speed" ornament at the top and a colorful Packard Crest badge at its lower center portion. The grille is flanked by two massive chrome headlights that measure almost a foot across perched on a chrome bar that connects the swooping fenders. Beneath the headlights are working chrome trumpet horns, then a single 8-inch wide headlamp centered on another chrome bar. At the bottom is a gleaming chrome bumper with a "Packards International" badge. Turn signal lights share the same bright chrome finish and sit atop the fenders. The hood opens up from both sides with dual folding panels that feature a series of 4 manually opened chrome vent doors meant to allow the engine some room to breathe. Both sides of the Packard feature spare tires that ride alongside the rear section of the hood, embedded in the fenders. These tires are encased in green metal covers and wrapped in chrome bands with side-view mirrors attached at the tops. These tires are a match to the ones on all 4 corners – red painted wire wheels with Packard center-caps wrapped in wide white wall bias-ply tires – a feature that makes the car absolutely captivating to look at. Between the spare tires and the hood are chrome-plated step plates that allow you better access to working on the engine or reaching the upper portions of the car. These step plates have locks and removable tops, and the one on the passenger side houses the battery underneath. Behind the curvaceous fenders and spare tires are wide running boards with bright chrome trim and new rubber mats. While you're checking out the running boards, notice that the black body gaskets between the fenders and the car look like they've recently been replaced. The doors have elegant, forward-facing chrome door handles. Step up onto the running boards and you can see the like-new black vinyl roof topper. Just behind the passenger door and above the running board is a small rectangular door with a key lock – this is the golf bag storage door! That's right, a dedicated, carpeted area to stash your clubs for a day on the links. Behind the passenger cabin of this coupe is a feature that brings out the kid in all of us – a rumble seat! Two platform steps lead from the passenger side rear bumper up into the comfortable black leather seat. The floor is covered in the same tan carpet as the cab interior and there is also a foot-rest bar. The rumble seat latches securely just by pushing it closed, but there is no handle on it to open it. That is because there in a spring-loaded latch inside the cabin that, when pulled, pops open the rumble seat lid and then you just open it the rest of the way. At the rear of the car is a fold-down luggage rack dressed in green with chrome accents and another colorful Packard badge. On the luggage rack is a large black padded vinyl trunk box with chrome trim. Inside the box, you'll find an organized collection of original parts that were replaced during the restoration as well as some new parts for the future. There is also a Service Parts List Book, a Standard Service Manual, wiring diagrams, and a Max Merritt parts catalog. Also at the rear of the car is another chrome bumper, chrome taillights, and a polished stainless exhaust pipe.
Under the folding hood is the original 319.2ci inline 8-cylinder engine. The clearly legible engine number matches the engine number written on the receipt from its sale in 1933 to the second owner. The big cast iron block and all of its surrounding engine bay components have obviously been attended to – it is like looking at it back in 1932! The engine was rebuilt by Beach Performance, a well-respected shop here in Ohio and there are a multitude of receipts documenting all of the upgrades under the hood. Many original parts were painstakingly rebuilt to keep this historic car as factory-correct as possible. The block is painted Packard Green and the engine bay and components are dressed in black and green with chrome accents. The intake and exhaust manifolds were coated in fresh porcelain during the restoration and they look absolutely great. The engine starts from cold with ease and purrs so quietly you'll question if it's running! The big 8-cylinder is mated to a 3-speed manual synchromesh transmission (also rebuilt) that shifts with ease as it sends power to the rear wheels. Take a look underneath this Packard to find that it was treated to the same level of attention as all other aspects of the car. The clean, green undercarriage is a testament to the caliber of the restoration.
Open the driver's door to find an opulent grey and tan interior with beautiful burled wood accents. The door panels present very well with grey fabric that matches the seats at the top and tan fabric that matches the carpet at the bottom. The door windows and rear window are all surrounded with stunning wood trim. The door handles and window cranks look OEM-correct and are in good condition. The split bench seat is covered in very nice quality grey fabric with brown piping and it's quite comfortable. The driver's seat is manually adjustable (forward and backward) while the passenger side is stationary. Overhead is a tight tan cloth headliner with working dome light and underfoot is tan carpet with carpeted tan floormats. While checking out the carpet you'll notice the foot-button start, swing-away accelerator pedal, and chrome floor-shifter with black ball for the 3-speed transmission. The kick panels are covered in brown vinyl and both sides are equipped with levers that open side vents to allow for fresh air to come in. Next to the passenger kick panel is a chrome-encased TropicAire heater box with adjustable wing doors that's operated by an under-dash mounted dial with an arrow on it (which illuminates when the dash lights are on!) The windshield has 2 latches at the bottom which allow the window to swivel out at the bottom for increased air flow. There are 2 windshield wipers with corresponding pull swi