Initially drawing inspiration from utilitarian depot hacks, wood-trimmed wagons evolved into prestigious vehicles for affluent families heading to country estates.

This particular model emerged as part of Packard’s redesigned 22nd Series, featuring a semi-fastback profile that earned recognition as “Fashion Car of the Year” from the New York Fashion Academy. Unlike earlier woodies with structural wooden elements, this vehicle used ash panels with birch framing primarily as decorative accents on a steel body. The only functional wooden component was its innovative two-piece tailgate—a design that would become standard on American wagons by the mid-1950s.

Though categorized within the Eight line, these Station Sedans came generously equipped with nearly all Deluxe Eight features, including a clock, trip odometer, cigar lighter, chrome horn ring, and front courtesy lights. Power came from Packard’s refined L-head inline-eight engine paired with a three-speed manual transmission with overdrive.

Production totaled just 3,885 examples between 1948 and 1950, with most built in the first year. Below is a set of amazing photos of the 1948 Packard Eight Station Sedan.