Introduced at the height of the Great Depression in August 1933, Packard’s Eleventh Series, with its subtly raked windscreen, V-shaped radiator grille and low stance, further cemented the marque’s reputation for making some of the most beautiful automobiles of the Classic Era. Updates for the 1934 model year included the addition of an oil-temperature regulator and a larger, heavy-duty generator to allow for an optional vacuum-tube radio. The gas-tank filler was relocated to the left rear taillight assembly, while new, slotted bumpers and vent wings distinguished the 1934 model from its predecessor.

Although the Eight was the lowest-priced model in Packard’s lineup, it was by no means an entry-level automobile, as this 1100 Five-Passenger Sedan—riding on a 129.5-inch wheelbase and priced from $2,350—demonstrates. The Eights received the aforementioned Eleventh Series mechanical upgrades, in addition to the striking styling that remains so sought after today. Power was supplied by Packard’s renowned nine-bearing straight-eight, here displacing 319 cubic inches and producing 120 horsepower. A three-speed synchromesh transmission and vacuum-assisted brakes were standard.

According to this Five-Passenger Sedan’s vehicle identification plate, believed to be original, it was delivered new in July of 1934 to the Bronx branch of the Packard Motor Car Company of New York. In December 1974, William R. Messer of Shelby, North Carolina, acquired it in largely original condition. He completed a restoration of the car in red and black over a grey cloth interior by summer 1977. The Packard would remain in the Messer family until 2005, when it was sold to another resident of North Carolina.

Recognized as a Full Classic by the Classic Car Club of America, this Packard Eight is now offered from the Vehicle Vault Collection, where it has resided since 2012. It still wears its prior restoration and sports a range of optional features, including the Deluxe radiator mascot—Packard’s famous so-called “Goddess of Speed”—as well as Trippe Speedlights, dual covered side-mounted spare tires topped with mirrors, and a rear luggage rack for longer trips.

With balanced lines and elegant proportions backed by Packard’s quality engineering and construction, this would be a fine point of introduction for a collector looking to get acquainted with one of Detroit’s storied marques, as well as an ideal acquisition for an experienced collector seeking a car well-suited for family drives and extended tours.