Now that the Pacific Northwest's autumn rains have arrived our Classical Drives contributor Nigel Matthews must be wishing he was again judging the first annual Barrington, Illinois, concours. While his wife shopped the area's classy shops Nigel took several photos under summer's warm blue skies. Among them was this 1930 Packard 734 Speedster. In spite of the inline eight-cylinder engine's limitations the Speedster was aimed at Cadillac's V-16 and proved that, all things being equal, simplicity beats complexity. The Packard 385 cu. in. inline side-valve produced 145 hp through a 4-speed transmission, with Bijur chassis lubrication, solid axles, four-wheel finned cast iron mechanical drum brakes. The 734 Speedster was Packard's high-performance model, distinguished by lighter chassis and narrower boat-tail bodies. According to the 734 Speedster Registry only 26 examples are left in all body styles; other sites claim only eleven survivors. Its hood ornament has been christened "The Goddess of Speed." Want a 734 Speedster, lack the big bucks? The New Zealand Mint offers a 2006 $2.00 NZ coin with a Packard 734 on one side and the Queen on the other.

[Photo: Nigel Matthews]