One of the things I enjoy the most about my job is going through old brochures to learn about cars from yesteryear. While trying to find information on the Packard Darrin models, I stumbled across a type of Packard I never knew existed: the Henney-Packard Airport Limousine, specifically the 1940 model.

The 1940 model year marked the end of Packard’s 4-Year Plan, which resulted in an expanded factory, more efficient production, new equipment, and lower costs. That was the same year that Packard released the new Super-8 One-Sixty model. Dubbed the “New Master of America’s Highways,” the One-Sixty featured a new 160-horsepower 356ci straight-eight. Packard offered the One-Sixty in various body styles and wheelbase lengths, including the 7-Passenger Limousine, which had 148 inches between the centers of its front and rear whitewalls.

That was a lot of room for well-heeled passengers, who could lower a glass partition to speak with their chauffeur. But there was a much larger, commercial-grade Packard — kind of. As its name implies, the Henney-Packard Airport Limousine was a joint effort between Packard and the Henney Motor Company that produced vehicles to move travelers to and from airports. Packard provided the chassis, which had a massive 204-inch wheelbase — about 70 inches longer than that of the 2026 Chevrolet Suburban. Henney topped that with a steel and white ash body that pushed the limo’s total length to 296 inches, or almost 25 feet (again, roughly 70 inches longer than the current Suburban).

Two configurations were available: 9-seater and 12-seater, both of which had eight side doors and the option of cloth or leather upholstery. Depending on configuration, the front row could seat the driver and one or two passengers. The 9-seater limos had a little extra luggage space; in both models, a glass partition separated the passenger compartment from the main cargo area at the back. A pair of rear doors opened to provide access to all the luggage once it was time for travelers to leave this land yacht and board their planes.

So what powered these big beasts of burden? You should recognize it from a little earlier: a 160-horse, 356ci straight-eight. The driver had to shift the 3-speed gearbox, but he/she could pop it into the Aero-Drive system’s fourth gear for calm cruising and better fuel economy — a very useful thing for someone hauling around 11 people and their suitcases.

When I fly, I usually take the PreFlight Airport Parking shuttle to my terminal, but I’d be willing to pay a little extra if I knew PreFlight was going to pick me up in one of these Henney-Packard limos. What about you? Tell us in the Comments section below.