Tom Boehm

Insight #6 b. Convertible sedans of the late 1930's and woodie station wagons have some things in common. Both were the most expensive vehicles in the lineup. Both had low production numbers. (Although still relatively low, more woodies were sold). Both were associated with luxury lifestyles. Since the first station wagons were used to shuttle tourists from the train station to resorts, hotels, and estates they became associated with leisure and luxury. Station wagons carried this association to the end with fake wood wallpaper. One difference is station wagons had a low survival rate because the wood didn't last.

Insight #6: Convertible sedans of the late 1930's seem to be associated with more "prosperous" buyers. One reason was the high purchase price when new. The other reason is any convertible is not practical as ones primary car. Convertible buyers would have to be able to afford a second car. The back seat of a convertible sedan made them appealing to families, but an expensive and non necessary car is not a priority for most people with children.

This turned out to be a good thread. Thanks to all who responded. These are my new insights: 1. The convertible sedan of the late 1930's was the last legacy of when this bodystyle was more mainstream. Buyers were more accustomed to and accepting of the drawbacks. 2. Just like a convertible coupe, the back windows could be rolled up to block the blast of wind. 3. The tops on these cars are as much a PIA as the sidemount spare tires. 4. There is a high survival rate despite very low production numbers. For example, there were only 200 1940 Lasalle convertible sedans made yet you can always find one for sale.

The car was photoshopped onto the background. Notice the overhead electrical wires? visible through the windshield but not visible outside the car. 28 Chrysler, what do you see wrong with the picture?

Good responses. Keep them coming. I think the most interesting reason so far is the idea that there was a time when big open cars/touring cars were the standard, common, the norm, whereas closed cars were more expensive, newfangled, and a luxury. In the late '30's there was still a small but fading market for these big open cars. Buyers of convertible sedans of the late '30's grew up with this body style. What did people use these cars for in the pre WWII era? Not all owners were dignitaries. Maybe I answered my own question. I may be thinking of this in a 21st century way. I'm thinking of these cars as being very unusual and having limited use, but maybe to some in 1940 a big open car was still normal. Maybe they just used them like we use closed cars in 2023.

A convertible sedan (4 door convertible) seems like the ideal collector car in the 21st century. A formal and majestic parade car to be driven slow in great weather and stored in a garage. BUT who bought these cars when they were new? How were they used? They had room for 2 more passengers in the back seat but wouldn't those passengers get a blast of wind at anything faster than a crawl? A convertible coupe is romantic but a convertible sedan seems impractical and extravagant. Convertible sedans were the most expensive body style in the lineup and had the lowest production numbers. I think 1941 was the last year convertible sedans were offered. Lincoln offered one in the '60's. A 1940 Cadillac or Lasalle convertible sedan is what I would want if I ever get another collector car after I finish my Lasalle. I am fascinated by these cars because they are so elegant and extravagant. But who bought them when they were new?

The real linoleum I used in my woodie came from Forbo. Google Forbo Linoleum. I found a local flooring retailer that carried their line on Forbo website. LOTS of color choices. I don't think they have the ribbed version. I think I have seen pictures of 1949-1951 Ford woodies with ribbed linoleum in the back. Possibly '52 and up used it too. Contacting owners/restorers/experts of these cars would be a direction for research. The National Woodie Club may have volunteer club technicians for 49-51 Fords.

He's on here regularly but I will PM him anyway. Post some pix anyway. I want to see what you started with. If I were ever to restore another woodie, I would want a 1940 Packard 120.

I do have an answer for you. Look at my thread about my Lasalle in this woodie forum. Look at the November 9th 2023 post by "Shootey". He says he has exactly what you are looking for. Shootey is a regular poster on this woodie forum.

Hello series 14, tell us more about your project. Please post some pictures. I am really curious about Packard wagons. They are so rare. What model (110,115,120,160,180) is yours? I'm sorry, I don't know the answer to your question. My suggestion is kind of obvious, find another Packard woodie to study. I am restoring a 1940 Lasalle woodie, one of two that I know to exist. I studied the other one in person and in pictures.

I watched two of his videos about the engine. Some questions were answered in the videos. The rest of the engine parts look as bad as the block. He does have a workshop to move the car indoors. He does have mechanical ability. He really needs guidance from someone familiar with that V8 engine.

He was last on this forum Monday morning so he has read almost all the posts. Maybe he will respond.

Deadpurpledog, What do you need replated? I have had good experiences with Librandi's and Advance Plating in Nashville. These were NON potmetal pieces. Potmetal restoration is another story. The quality depends 100% on the craftsmans pride in his work. I have found potmetal restoration to be a gamble. At one of the recommended places in a previous post I got back some very good work and some terrible work. I can't believe their quality control was so poor that they actually sent the second batch back to me. It looked like melting ice cream. As much as I would like to, I won't say who because it was 10-15 years ago. If I ever restore another car with pot metal chrome pieces, I would rather use the best originals I could find rather than risk bad results with replating. I seem to remember an ad in Hemmings 10 or so years ago for a guy in Michigan? who would drill out the pits and fill them with silver solder individually before the plating process. This seems tedious and time consuming but preserves the detail. The alternative is to plate with copper and attempt to buff out the pits. That is how the detail is lost.

Hello Riverrat, Let's hear from you again. After all these responses, have you decided if you are going to attempt a restoration? Do you have an indoor place to do it? Have you worked on cars before? What are your skills? In order to succeed you have to enjoy working with your hands and feel a sense of accomplishment at the results. You have to enjoy the process along the way in addition to the end result. That is the mindset you need to accomplish a difficult restoration like this. The early V8 in your car is very interesting. Is the engine in the picture the spare block or the engine original to the car? Can you post more pictures of the car uncovered and the other engine?

Is L&L Auto Trim still in business?

Step 1: Do you have a garage where you can move it indoors permanently and work on it? Step 2: Don't start or take it apart until you have made contact with people who are familiar with this kind of car. Step 3: Don't start or take it apart until you have determined how much each stage of the restoration will cost. Decide if you have the money and if you want to spend it on this project. My first restoration was very challenging on a rare car. I was clueless in the beginning. I learned a lot along the way. It can be done. You can do this. Some important questions have to be answered first.

This thread went off track long ago so I will ask this question. My dad was a draftsman in the 1960's. (linen paper and pencil). I don't recall him having a slide rule but he did have a "Smoleys book" that had tables like the one posted above. Does anyone know what that book was?

I like the A/C. Yours is electric. My Lasalle woodie came with a similar aftermarket fan but it was propelled by engine vacuum, like the wipers. It clamps to the steering column. Where does yours attach? I really like the color and patina of the wood on your car.

I had the battery explode once in my 1991 Ford F-150. Very scary. I'm glad I was inside when it happened. I also had a muffler explode once while starting a different truck.

Zakman, great pictures. Thanks for posting. I want to go to that show when I get my Lasalle woodie finished.

1963 or 1964 Rambler Classic

After asking around, I found a place in New York that specializes in recovering and making new reproduction visors. www.autosunvisors.com Vinyl Specialties It seems this is very much a specialty. Not many upholsterers have the skill and equipment to do this.

Yes, I have the regulators and the window track. I think I have everything worked out. One problem I discovered in the pine version was the window track would be on top of the top hinge bolts. I can drill new holes in the metal hinge and move the bolts over. It is interesting the top front door hinge is a 1940 Lasalle hinge that has been customized for this car. I have not figured out why some holes and welded extensions are there. Someday it would be interesting to compare my reverse engineered door to the other Lasalle woodie in California. How close did I come? I know there are already some differences in how I am doing it versus how the other one is made. Some differences are original to my car and some differences I did because I think it looks better.

New Old Wood, I agree with your suggestion. There are some complicated rabbets that hold the inner and outer panels. I was practicing those on some of the reject pine pieces I made. I need to figure out the order in which I make the cuts. I also need to verify there is enough thickness of wood left to bolt the hinges to. I had to improvise some in adapting the design of the back doors to the front. I am very afraid of surprises in the end. That is why I am doing these trials in pine.

Shootey, thank you for the offer but I did get the back doors with the car. One of them was 100% complete with lock, handles, glass, and crank mechanism. The back doors are rectangular and flat. The challenge is to translate a flat, rectangular back door to a trapezoidal front door. The joinery and window track are a challenge on the hinge vertical and the diagonal pieces.