The introduction of the Packard Models 136 and 143 in June of 1923 was a singularly important milestone for America’s premier manufacturer of luxury automobiles.

Not only did these new designs include the first application of four-wheel brakes by Packard but they also the debuted the Packard inline eight cylinder engine that was to become emblematic of stately power, performance and smoothness in Packards for years to come.

Displacing 358 cubic inches, the new Packard eight delivered 85 brake horsepower at 3,000 rpm and was available in both 136” and 143” wheelbase chassis, each ten inches longer than the corresponding six-cylinder models, all of it placed forward of the firewall to make room for the longer engine.

Appropriate to Packard’s positioning and the expectations of its discriminating clientele, a long list of equipment was standard on the Eight including front and rear bumpers, manually operated windshield wipers, rear view mirror, transmission operated tire air pump, elec...