Matt Harwood Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 (edited) *SOLD* OK, this one is for you guys who hate whitewalls, shiny paint, fog lights, side mounts, trunks, and other add-ons. I know you might even object to the cream-colored wheels as being dangerously flashy and over-done, but look closely and you'll see one of the most amazing, untouched old cars I've ever seen. This rather handsome 1932 Packard 900 sedan shows just over 57,000 original miles and has had just two owners from new, with the most recent owner being its caretaker since about the time I was born. Aside from routine maintenance items and new seat covers, it remains completely original and as the factory made it, and Packard experts will notice quite a few rare parts that are seldom seen on restored cars. Paint and chrome are circa 1932 and I have to say that the car looks especially long and sleek without sidemounts. There are some expected scratches, chipping, and some micro-blistering on the fenders and hood, but it would be a crime to repaint this car and we all know it. The factory-applied pinstripes still look great. On this untouched car, you'll note a few neat details, including the leading door on the right side of the hood being installed backwards, the better to feed fresh air to the hot air manifold on the carburetor. This car is so authentic, there's still only one taillight out back. The only real bit of flash might be the "lady with donut" hood ornament, which is an ostentatious option that's been on this car since it was new. The interior is mostly original, save for the seat covers, which were replaced a few years ago when someone was irreparably careless while sitting on the original seats and replacement fabric couldn't be found. However, the carpets, door panels, headliner, and the beautiful woodgraining on the dash are all original. The doors close with that solid-sounding ker-CHUNK that's endemic to the big Classics. All the gauges are fully operational, including the clock, which was just rebuilt last year. There's also a Motorola radio under the dash, which we believe was installed in the late 1940s, including the antenna on the cowl and shockingly enough, it is rumored to be fully operational--I don't have the guts to power it up in case something goes wrong but the seller says it works. All the windows crank up and down, the wipers work, the silk shades are intact, and, well, this survivor is better sorted than a lot of restored cars I've seen. The 900 was the "entry level" Packard, although the hardware underneath was the same as the 901 "Standard" Eight so it drives like a big car should. It uses the same 320 cubic inch straight-8, the same smooth-shifting transmission, the same suspension on a slightly shorter wheelbase, and has the same unparalleled Packard torque. The engine has never been out of the car, so it's not all shiny and detailed, but you'll note that it's not deteriorated or rusty, either. Just serviced and used. It is extremely authentic under the hood and there are some new service items, including all the tune up parts: coil, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, and condenser. It even has correct spark plugs with black housings rather than cad plated (which weren't available until 1938). It starts quickly and easily (yes there's an electric fuel pump hidden under the car somewhere) and idles so smoothly and quietly that my photographer didn't notice that it was running while he was shooting some of the photos. It's a proven tour car with great road manners and carries a recent exhaust system and blackwall tires for a no-nonsense look. This is the best kind of survivor: a car that has always been loved and maintained, and like I said, it's ideal for those who like the minimalist look. It's still big and impressive like a Packard should be, and the preservation attracts a lot of attention wherever it goes. Imagine showing up at Hershey in the HPOF class with this car when everyone else is showing their mother's 1981 Oldsmobile. Asking price is $39,900 and you could drive this one home. Thanks for looking! Edited April 25, 2019 by Matt Harwood (see edit history) 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdc Posted July 18, 2018 Share Posted July 18, 2018 Beautiful shovelnose. It's hard to believe that original paint still looks this good (they don't make paint like that anymore!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted July 19, 2018 Author Share Posted July 19, 2018 It's probably not quite as nice as it looks in photos, but it would be a mistake to repaint this car. We took it to a casual show Tuesday night and it attracted more attention than the shiny Chevy Nomad resto-mod next to it. And it sure drives beautifully. One of the best-driving pre-war cars I've ever experienced. Original cars are just better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cahartley Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 That's just nuts this car stayed this beautiful over all those years........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trimacar Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 What a beautiful car, personally I really like the look of no sidemounts, makes the car look soooooo long.....the trimmer in me would have to find some old fabric and redo those seats, or at minimum make some kind of covers for them that look old....they just don't go with the rest of the car... That's going to be a great car for somebody......as W.C. Fields said, "ah, if I were but a younger man.....".... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott12180 Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 36 minutes ago, trimacar said: What a beautiful car, personally I really like the look of no sidemounts, makes the car look soooooo long..... Indeed, my thoughts entirely. For a while everyone wanted cars with sidemounts. About twenty years ago I had a friend who sold a 1930 Pierce Arrow Sedan to a fellow who then installed sidemounts ! Totally ruined the long, flowing lines of the car. I was interested to buy the car before but when it came up for sale again with the sidemounts, the car did nothing for me. My 1932 Packard Victoria has a rear mounted spare, as you can see in the lengthy thread it has generated. I think it is particularly handsome . . . . not to mention so much easier to work on ! --Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AC Fuhrman Posted July 19, 2018 Share Posted July 19, 2018 Pretty nice Matt! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motoringicons Posted July 21, 2018 Share Posted July 21, 2018 What a great find. I have always thought that the 1932 900 "shovel nose" grill was the best looking of all the Packard grills. These are lightweight and very agile cars that perform better than many of their larger counterparts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted July 25, 2018 Author Share Posted July 25, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdc Posted July 26, 2018 Share Posted July 26, 2018 I love the low and smooth idle on these engines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted July 26, 2018 Author Share Posted July 26, 2018 Yeah, this one is almost silent. The video camera picks up noises that aren't apparent to the ear, so it's even quieter than it seems in the video. During the tailpipe part of the video, it didn't stall, you just can't hear it until you rev it up, even when you're back by the tailpipe. It's easy to not notice that it's running and when I drive it and stop at red lights, I have to keep looking at the oil pressure gauge to make sure it's still idling. Pretty neat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Harwood Posted April 25, 2019 Author Share Posted April 25, 2019 SOLD! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 Matt I really enjoy the high quality images and thorough descriptions on the cars you list. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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