Inventory Listing

Older restoration in excellent condition. Overdrive for touring, Trippe lights, trunk, newer tires, new top insert. Reliable, powerful, comfortable, beautiful, ready to go. A superb entry-level Full Classic.

This 1929 Packard 633 7-Passenger Sedan was restored in the 1980s by a gentleman who intended on driving it around the country—hence the overdrive—and drive it he did. The mileage it shows today is probably since that restoration was completed, but what it also means is that mechanically, this car is totally sorted and incredibly reliable. The paint and body were restored at that time using the original combination of Highland Green with black trim and Peewee Green pinstripes, although the front fenders have been more recently repainted. Fit and finish are typical Packard, with doors that close with a solid, reassuring feel, few squeaks and rattles inside, and a robust feeling from behind the wheel. It does show some very minor signs of use and age, most notably some checking above one of the door handles, but few cars can make a grander entrance than this big Packard.

Notable recent work includes a brand new fabric roof insert about three years ago, a set of handsome Trippe lights up front that really give it an upscale and expensive look, and a fitted trunk with monogrammed cover out back, making this a fantastic choice for CARavans and other old car events. For touring safety, side mirrors and turn signals have been added, which use the cowl lights and a pair of auxiliary brake lights out back, which are far more visible than the original single brake light in the three-lamp housing.

The lovely tan wool broadcloth interior remains extremely impressive, even after 30 years. It’s quite authentic and the gentleman who did the work must have been quite a taskmaster, because the details are right and the quality is outstanding. The gauges all work except the gas gauge, which is a capillary-style setup known to be finicky, and a repair kit is included with the car. The panel to the left of the steering column controls the overdrive, a Borg-Warner unit installed by noted expert Lloyd Young. It offers a 30% overdrive, making this Packard quite comfortable at 55-60 MPH. Next to that is simply a switch for the Trippe lights with its own indicator light, which is kind of nice, too. As a 7-passenger sedan, space in the back is expansive, with two jump seats that are comfortable enough for even adults, making this a practical hobby car, too.

Packard offered two engines in 1929, with the 633 models carrying a 320 cubic inch straight-8 making about 90 horsepower. With nine main bearings, you know it’s impeccably smooth and thanks to Packard’s legendary over-engineering, it’ll run practically forever. Cosmetically, it’s showing some age, but the sucker works so well, I’d be hesitant to take anything apart just to detail it and for a tour car, there’s exactly nothing wrong under the hood It’s very clean, as someone has recently spent a lot of time simply scrubbing and tidying things up front, and thanks to recent service work, it’s a superb runner. Turn on the ignition, pull the choke, and hit the starter and it rumbles to life without a lot of drama, and once it’s warmed up it moves the big sedan with plenty of enthusiasm. It spent several years in Scottsdale, Arizona, and if it didn’t overheat there, it never will, and the big takeaway from driving this car is that it simply works like it should. No drama, no special techniques needed, just get in and enjoy, which—in this hobby—is still rather remarkable.

The transmission is a 3-speed manual and there is no synchromesh, so you’ll have to brush up on your double-clutching, but the Packard only needs a quick bump of the clutch to make effortless changes. The overdrive is easy to use and really makes this a car that does everything well; it’ll crawl along at walking pace in high gear, accelerate cleanly, and cruise all day at 55 MPH without turning the bearings to mush. There’s an older exhaust system that has a nice straight-8 grumble to it that I like a lot, the mechanical brakes are reassuringly capable, and those blackwall Denmans on 20-inch disc wheels give it a very formidable look, don’t you think?