Highlander160

The marketing would have to be right. We see Cummins heritage ads, Chevy heritage ads, and who can forget the latest Hemi blitz...all to educate the consumer. Their market? Not me, well yet anyway, but there's plenty of wealth in this nation to educate on the finer things in life, past and present. Which model? I'd actually prefer a Clipper knock off. IMO it's the last of a breed with it's tall grille and hood treatment. Also being a unitized body (as in no separate fenders like a 30s car) it would be easy enough to crash test within the current standards without appearing overly "padded up" for safety. For a 50s look I prefer the 53 Carribean. Again, not too hard to crash and has a heritage of exclusivity. Sell enough of them they could do several models.

I have to say that the "new" Packard just isn't enough of a Packard to catch on. Their market should be the higher end of the food chain like celebs and such, but it doesn't say it the way it should. If Ford can make a new Mustang look old, GM the Camaro and Chrysler the Challenger, then there has to be designers out there to bring more Clipper into the look, and there's enough aftermarket engine stuff to nearly build your own power until such a time that an all new engine could be tooled up. It could work but it just doesn't.

Wow! That 34 is stunning with really pleasing proportions. I have to say it's on the 1107 though. I'm looking at the running board length to get that. The overall looks longer because it's so low. If a sedan can be sexy, that's it. Thanks for posting, and I'd like to see more as well. Adding some input, and a few questions. I noticed the color discussion, and perhaps better for a new thread, but there's a few things to remember and consider on colors. If you research deep enough you will find old color books from the day. The reality is that mixing toners are still standardized to a high degree in name and shade. 1 example, Packard Blue, is all "Prussian Blue" tint and the color "binder" which is the clear it's mixed in. Some formulae have in their ingredients "two drops" of white, some only the weight or oz measure of Prussian Blue. There is still a transparent blue tint called Prussian Blue. It looks just like the Scripto blue liquid ink when you look through it in a glass bottle. The real trick is the substrate colors and getting that old lacquer look. I have a bag of tricks of my own for those effects. By and large, our new colors have a real blazing effect. What would have been refered to as bright red in the 30s or 40s would be muddy and almost brown by todays standards, again the substrate and the tone of the binder being responsible for "dirtying" the color. As far as the trim on the 41, I too would like to know the standard. Mine are red. I also have hood trim down the side of my running boards and it fits like a glove. Looks like it's always been there too. The grille sides are always body color aren't they? And the red I'm speaking of is in the arrowhead of the side trim. If it's Clipper trim, I thought it was supposed to be silver. If it's neither, my bad...

Asking $20k obo Posting for a friend, a 1946 Mercury 2dr Convertible. This is as rust free as you could ask for. The body is quite straight and the floors are excellent. Some of the chrome plating is already done, the woodgraining is done, the seats are upholstered but could use some attention from sitting. The machine work is done on the engine and all of the internals are new and ready for assembly. The top bows and irons are there. The frame was painted but needs to be freshened up also. This is a very viable project for restoration or custom. There's also an unrestored Columbia 2sp axle included (the proper type). I should have some pictures to post in a couple days, and again, this is a really straight and rust free car. Don't hesitate. You can PM or call: 248 982 1997, ask for Gene.

Sorry to disagree with you Dave, but the chapter title in the AQ Packard book is called "Cloaking the Ultimate in Conveyances", and has a fairly large amount of text regarding more than the 12s. I found a lot of timeline info on the early stuff before it goes on to the 12cyl customs. In general terms, every chapter has text about the custom offerings with tables showing price and wheelbase as well.

I'm dropping the price to $40K. FIRM. And yes, I will stay at that. This is too much car to part out and I need the space. I can help with delivery within 300 miles of Detroit for actual cost.

That's correct. 1001 is the same as a 900, or something like 127" WB. 1002 or 1101. 1103 is also 136 but won't work. Check the frame numbers to be sure. Good luck.

etolen, I feel ya brother, but look at it this way. What was the crowd's reception to your mainly "as it was" car? Keeping something original should be about preserving the history and providing a source for study on how it was. It's almost never about awards, although now, many of the higher end concours meets are offering an "Original" class for such owners. Your car provides examples of how things were done on more than just Oaklands. There's several things that were industry standards in all models, and perhaps there's stuff on that car one may find on everything from Ford to Packard. I tip my hat to ya for keeping it real.

Returned to the top... I've been "finding" and aquiring things for this car. I have both the inside and outside door handles, several mechanical bits and more. I've had a few prospects on it lately and close offers, but not quite there. The idea of a part out would be almost criminal, so let's try this at the top again. Thanks for looking.

I found a before and after of my Packard. This was in 93 or 94 before the "patina" rage began in full force: I'm guilty of changing the wheel color and adding the canvas spare cover. That paint is original and hand polished. The yellow glass was just freakin kool IMO. Perhaps that's another thing that goes to far, leaving the paint all seedy and tired instead of what a proud owner might do. Polish and clean it, keep it waxed and shiney. Dirt and rust are just that, they aren't "history". Going too far? A guy with an old truck told me he wanted to keep the "original dents" on the bed of a refinished original. DOH!!!

Nice topic. I'm about to begin a "preservation" of a 70 Trans Am RAIII 4spd car for it's original owner. The overall plan is to remove the front clip and freshen all of the chassis black sheet metal parts, repair the brakes, lines, replace the fuel and brake lines, gas tank and exhaust system. The paint has a few surface spots but I'm very confident that I can perfectly match the Lucerne Blue paint. The engine will be cosmetically refreshed and properly tuned and everything put back just as it was. Other than repair of some corrosion from extended storage and repairs for safety and reliability, I consider the car to be as close to stone cold OEM as humanly possible once finished. The idea behind it is to create a "benchmark" of correct finishes and such for all to see on such a car. How would some of us consider this? The paint by the way, there's probably less than 2sqft that needs repair in some of the obvious places like around the glass and below 1 door. On other examples, I think I see where you're going. The issue I have, a peave really, is when a restoration is not researched and liberties are taken because "it could have been..." vs striving for OEM. It's easy to over do something. Seeing a cut and buffed chassis and under-fender area really bugs me. The OEM didn't do it and I'm pretty sure that maybe 2 people in all of history may have asked for it on a really high end car. When do we leave it? When it looks like something you'd have always been proud to own. Normal wear and "patina" (I HATE that term's latest abuse!) have limits. There was a stunning 27 Packard Murphy Roadster in HPOF this year. The paint was peeling off of the aluminum coachwork. The rest, while old, was a sight to see. What to do with the finish? I don't know really what you could do. I think the car could easily be kept original, but maybe some experimentation? It's not mine and wouldn't judge it's owner's decision one way or the other because it's just short of a genuine privilege to see something like that. I might be tempted to make some level of repair, but I'm a finisher by trade. Not hard to guess why on my part knowing that. Your Lincoln example, I think the car should be mechanically sorted and every effort made to repair any damage that takes away from it's overall beauty. It deserves to be "romanced" into nearly show condition. Many years ago I had a stone cold original 32 Packard 902 5pass cpe. 22,000 original miles. I refinished the hood tops and front fenders, blending the black lacquer into the original finish, re-striped over the original pinstriping, refinished the wheels and gave it new tires, re-chromed the bumpers. The interior was in very good condition and was nice enough to ride around in without feeling bad. I also replaced the top insert and the proper aluminum trim around it. Was it still an original car?

Those of you who say the 5pass sedan and formal share the same body structure, you're right on the money. Several years back I restored 34 1107 Formal Sedan. During the interior and roof restoration it was very apparent how they shared the overall structure. The rear window in a Formal, ususally about 1/3 the size of the standard sedan window, had it's own frame work and sheet metal that tied in to same wood substructure. Packard didn't bother to weld or fill the edges since the whole affair was covered in a padded leather. The same was apparent in the 1/4 window area. Not all of the wood was used from the 5pass versions, but the basics were there. This one had 2 jump seats and one of them indeed faced sideways. The roof covering was a challenge. The sides of the padded leather top were 1pc but the deck was in 2 so overall, a 4pc top pattern. The split in the leather on the center deck was even with the rearmost door jamb. We ordered extra large hydes dyed Packard Blue from our ol buddy Bill Hirsch, and if I recall correctly the hydes were in excess of 65sqft to accomodate the side panels. 1/2 rounds brass mouldings were then screwed around the perimeter of the leather, the screw heads filled, and then painted to match the car. On the original, the fill was a very hard version of the old school spot putty that lacquer painters used to use back in the day. Why formal and closed cars seem so much less in price has always been a head-scratcher to me. The shear elegance and craftsmanship that Packard employed in these cars is exponentially higher than most any open car. Nice topic...

Since I did bring up chrome, the Packard way, while they were always willing to accomodate, was chrome spokes and center with a painted rim and a trim ring applied. I've seen only 1 picture of a Packard drop center rim in chrome, and that was on a display chassis. Everything else is usually a painted rim. I can't recall many chrome spokes with painted centers and rims. That was normally a Cadillac trait, but I'm sure a couple folks may have asked for it. I've sen a few factory shots of full chrome "snap ring" type wheels. More brain food...

Actually the "nippled" 900 and 1001 wheels are 1/2" narrower. We just went through all of that this season and confirmed it yet again (!) last Friday. My friend has both cars, 1001 and 1002 and we were sorting things out. Still, the nippled wheels do pop up now and then and are sometimes mistaken for the more senior of the lines. It always pays to measure. If the 8cyl wheels you find are indeed nippled they could have been chromed when new for an Eight or Super 8. Another close friend has an 1104 spt phaeton with 6 nippled wheels that were chromed at one point. They're all approx 5" at the rim edge, a 900/1001 is closer to 4 1/2. Just some food for thought...

The restoration of this car is less than exceptional. Click on the body tag picture and then expand it. Nice slotted oval screws, paint right over pitted sheet metal, the engine shots show missing horns and runs in the air cleaner. The numbers are a head scratcher. "2345"? Really? And who delivered it? True enough, I can't exactly see the door pulls either. The lower door/kick panel stainless is there. I may have to go to storage and look at my tag and some of the other things. I do know that my auto clutch plumbing is missing and lots of guys over the years simply pitched it rather than kept it working right. Even so, at least put it on there for looks if you can't make it work (they can be fussy I'm told). It brought all the $$$$ and then some for what I see. In concours condition it could push twice that. This isn't.

It's not worth anything. I've never seen one. Too old. Ain't pretty. I'll do you a favor and pay the shipping just so you don't have to look at it any more. :D:D:D:D Or, that's a really kool horn and I'd like to have it "just because". I can't help on value.

Going by memory because I don't have my references handy, there was a 6cyl Clipper, a Clipper Deluxe (or Custom?) with the small 8, a Super Clipper (or Clipper Super depending an what side of the car you look at) with the 356 and all of the other mechanical ammenities, and the Custom Super Clipper which was the top of the line. The Custom Super had all of the mechanical features of the Super with some things like the vacuumatic clutch and OD as standard equipment. But, it's that interior in the Custom Super that makes it so special. The back of the front seat looks almost like Roman columns, the headliner is seamed from front to rear adding to an already sumptuous rear seating area, the rear seat looks like grandma's forbidden sofa, and several other features that just scream exclusivity. The Custom Super Club Sedan (fastback 2dr) is among the most coveted and most expensive of the model. In my opinion, a sterling example of such is worth $65K+ if it's right.

The model # is everything on those.

I don't think gas pumps and old toys "violates" the Hershey experience. Look in your own garage to answer that one. Even old tools, advertising, old light fixtures, I say why not? I'd love to see a 1/2 dozen restored old shop lights over my cars some day. true enough, old dishes and glasses, housewares and such, maybe aren't perfectly acceptable. Then again, how many of our wives have put up with our affliction? At least they get a spot here n there to pick through if only for fun. Yes alsancle, you nailed it. I think let it ride, let it eat. Why whine about the greatest antique and collector car venue on the planet? It works. Nobody wants some exacting and rigid experience there. It's not a public service. It's people like us on this board who are as much the same as we are different. Sunglasses? Seriously? How many forgot theirs this year? I recall 4 days of beautiful blazing sun and I'd bet several were as happy to see him as woulda been happy to see a rain poncho vendor in years past. You want the AACA to do something about it? I don't. Just walk on by. I didn't look for Pontiac parts either...

Sold...

The best advice is get there early and don't leave. There's enough places to relax now and then, vendors are mostly friendly, worth the effort. Wear the shoes your feet like to be in. You'll work different fields each day. Get there early enough and you can park across the road from each field each day. There are crosswalks that have cops and volunteers working traffic for safe crossing. Other than that, get there early. The Coaco Diner has good breakfast and they open at 6am, they get you in and out quick. Oh yeah, one last thing, get there early.

I'll bring this to Hershey. You won't be disappointed...

Since the Kaiser Darrin was actually before the Vette by a few months, I'd say that whole gig was "worse" if you define worse as lame in the HP dept. Post war Packards being dull: well I'd fully agree with that regarding the 48-50 models. Even though there's a precious few I might consider owning, well I can't think of or imagine an uglier front facia. Rear 3/4 view, drop dead sexy if you like swoopy "kustom" looking cars. Windshield, a sinister 49deg rake 1st used on the Clippers. Again, drop dead sexy. But you go forward to the grille/headlight/bumper area, sorry Packardites. The poor thing looks like a cross-eyed kid with a mouth full of jawbreakers. Even the front wheel opening is just, well, off. It doesn't flow with the rest of the car from the cowl back. The Clippers are damn good lookin cars IMO. Again that sinister rake to the W/S, long high hood, and the Custom Super interiors are like that room at Granny's house that nobody was allowed to go in to. The 356 and 359 engines are arguably one of Packard's best ever. I've had the pleasure of having a few of them under my right foot and they never disappoint. Heavy maybe, not as practical for a hotrod/race application as some period choices, but still in the HP and speed dept, one of the best ever. Those are my thoughts not yours, but some of us may agree. Tax and title extra, no purchase necessary, void where prohibited, see your retailer for details...

Lucky you, huh? I saw 2 others last year. One with the typical thin and pitted water passages for $700, and another that had a chip out of the flange and even more pitting and corrosion for $600. I saw another the year before with a crack in the flange but not pitted as bad as last year's examples for $850. Bottom line, I'm not hurting for dough, I know what I have is in exceptional condition, I know that if I needed one for a restoration I'd snag this one in a heartbeat because it's that nice. I still say I'll listen to a reasonable offer, but I guess it would make a lovely wall clock if it didn't sell until such a time that someone may need it.

Make a realistic offer if my price seems high. I didn't think so based on the condition. Could be the best OEM example I've seen and I've seen quite a few.