Body Builders

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Is there any reliable documentation anywhere that will tell what Packard Coach Builders did: What , Where and When, as far as materials used and designs used for a given Year, in building bodies, for Pre-war cars?

[Tom M]

Rick,

Does this site help Coach Builders

[Restorer32]

Hugo Pfau's THE COACHBUILT PACKARD first published 1973.

[Guest JT]

Tom, that's a good site with lots of info, thanks <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Guest imported_Speedster]

Pachin31

Yes, the Coach-Builders Website is very Interesting, but that's not really what I'm trying to find. I was hoping to find data on the designs of their bodies, as to what they did and when. Because I'm trying to determine what type body is on my 645 and it would be useful future reference.

Restorer32

Does that book have useful information or is it just a general descriptions of the companies and some pictures of their creations, like most books I'm seen on the subject? Do you know if it is still in print and where it can be purchased?

[Restorer32]

Almost exclusively period photos of cars built by the various custom builders along with info about the companies, their history, etc. Unlikely you will find much info anywhere as to the actual methods and materials used to construct particular bodies. Someone in an earlier post stated that the convertible coupes had a framework around the door windows like the coupes. I don't believe this to be true. Certainly wasn't true in 1930 or 1931.

[Guest imported_Speedster]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Unlikely you will find much info anywhere as to the actual methods and materials used to construct particular bodies. </div></div>

It's not detailed construction methods and materials that I'm trying to find, (Altho that would be great). I'm trying to find detailed information on the 'Designs' of the Coupe bodies, as to what designs were used which years, etc. Not the Custom bodies, since those were One-off designs, but the general 'production'(if that is the correct term) bodies done by Dietrich and others.

But, I'm starting to think that information is Not available either. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[K8096]

I agree, I think what is true is that on most convertible coupes of this era, they are basically the same body as a coupe, but with the roof & tops of the doors cut off. Feasable, the 1929 645 coupe in question here could be made into a convertible coupe quite easily if you had a top mechanism. While I am certainly not encouraging this, it's been done many times in the past. Look at 1934 Packard Twelve for example, this conversion has been done several times.

[Matt Harwood]

Somebody call for a body builder?

<span style="font-style: italic">"Ja, I vill help you build your Packard's body, puny man! I vill form it mit my bare hands!"</span>

[Dr Morbius]

Hey Matt , Isn't that " Ja , I vill help you build your Packard's body , GIRLY MAN ! " LOL <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

....................Steve