1924 Packard, 7 seat, Straight Eight, Tourer

The number plate reads ‘CD9’and she’s the vehicle that began Graeme Craw’s love of Packard motor cars. The first owner, the Hotel Cargen of Auckland purchased the 1924 Packard to collect guests from the Railway station. Changes in ownership eventually saw the car sitting on a lawn for sale at Mt Maunganui.

Now Graeme’s story begins. Graeme, his wife Moira and Moira’s sister went to a stock auction near Te Puke. They purchased ten Angus heifers but at the end of the auction thirteen sheep came up for sale. Graeme, who couldn’t resist a bargain, bought the sheep. Except he had a problem, he couldn’t transport the sheep and cattle together.

Graeme’s sister-in-law told him of a big, old car for sale and maybe he could buy that to cart the sheep. Graeme purchased what turned out to be a Packard Tourer, with a straight eight motor. He pulled out the back seat and carted the thirteen sheep to his farm at Anawhata, West Auckland.

Graeme was impressed with the Packard’s engineering but in 1954 he sold the car to a friend, Bruce Anderson. Bruce restored the vehicle and used it extensively on Vintage Car Club events. The car then passed through several more owners before being put up for sale at New Plymouth in 1974. By now Graeme was seriously collecting Packards so he was keen to buy the car back. Unfortunately money was short. He went to the bank manager for a loan but ended up with money to buy hay!

Money procured, the family drove to New Plymouth to collect the car. On the way home they stopped near the top of Mt Messenger for a cup of tea. However, driving up the hill from the other direction was the bank manager and his family. The manager spotted the Packard and called to Graeme, ‘mighty fine load of hay you’ve got there, Graeme’.

Today CD9 is displayed at the Packard Motor Museum. It’s possibly the oldest production straight eight in the world.