This makes me want to throw up

[K8096]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Packard-1...sspagenameZWDVW

[Loyd Smith]

I even get upset when I see someone butcher an old Ford or Chevy. I've, "improved," a Packard from time to time in order to make it more drivable but never anything that could not be returned easily to original and always (when at all possible) with Packard parts. In my humble opinion there were NEVER enough of these cars to justify mutilating one except (possibly) in those cases when there just isn't enough left of one to restore it.

[Guest imported_Packards1]

It is amazing when a "car" goes on the auction it immediately has one opening bid. Then it just sits there with no other bids. Maybe it is the brother in law bidding scam to get it started. As for the car, it is another piece of rolling history lost.

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

Depends on how much the body has been butchered. I've seen over the years, rolling chassis on eBay and basket cases for sale else where. If the body is still streight enuf then put it on the right chassis or some Packard chassis that is close. MAYBE the seller knows where the frame is!!! This is not a sickening issue it's a possible opportunity to get a prewar coupe, especialy if the chassis is still laying out behind the garage or someplace.

If i could find a good 56 Packard body mounted on a chevy chassis then that's what i'd do. Look for a rusted out Pat or a chassis with no body and merge the two.

[flaacajunior]

i say that when you alter a car from its origional form to a point where

it no longer recignisable you cant call it ford or chevy anymore its just junk.

its really sad that people take restorable cars and mudulate them into origional peices of

art in which they have copied off tv.

it has come to a point where people fear selling thier antiques because some one may come along

and hotrod a classic treasure.

however the thing that really burns me is when we see such thins in the paper as:

'53 Hudson hornet

runs, needs little work this is how we lose our classics

for restore, or hotrod

[mrpushbutton]

Guys, I have come to the sad conclusion that this what we will be seeing in the future. a great deal of the men who have owned Packards are now getting up in years, their children do not share the love for Packards, or antique autos in general, and hot-street rodding is growing in popularity thanks to television and magazine publishers, and let's not forget the hokum factory that is the Barrett-Jackson hypefest every January. I've said this before on the "general discussion" pages here: the hot-rod guys have climbed every mountain possible with Ford bodies, and they are looking for new summits to conquer. At one point the supply of pre-war Packards IS going to exceed the demand, and there won't be enough spots in museums to take them. I hope to get a 33-34 Packard eight someday, and I think it will be much easier 15 years from now. I stated this theory/opinion at a CCCA function about 5 years ago, and made some people unhappy, but of the entire reigon, only two of the men in the group have sons that like/want the cars. It's a simple supply/demand connect-the-dots question

[52deluxe]

ive seen my share of rods and for the most part i feel its their car. but, i would much rather see a basket case made into a rod rather then a fairly decent original. also those wheels/rims on that thing are just so wrong.

[michel88]

There seems to be a trend for these Hot Rodders who have more money than taste to want to ruin unusual, rare and Classic cars such as Packards. They all do the same basic things: Huge 20"+ rims, chevy V8 and automatic transmissions, big stereos and tasteless paint jobs. One of the worst I have seen was a '56 Continental Mark II that some fool "improved" by chopping the top on this perfectly proportioned car. With all these TV shows promoting Hot Rodding (destroying) cars I am afraid this is only the tip of the iceberg. A lot of these rods are built from AACA trophy winning cars too. It is a real shame.

[R W Burgess]

Brian, I hate to bring this up, but it's the AACA's responsibility to carry the torch of original antique vehicles. But, then you go to a National Meet, and where are all of the spectators? I asked this question at a recent National Meet. I wondered out loud why the sponsoring region didn't advertize more to the public about the great show they were putting on. This person's answer was that they didn't really want the unknowing public to "hang" all over their cars while trying to get a good look at them. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Sad, really sad. I guess we need better supervision at shows, or at least a few written guidelines to hand out at the gate for these "poor unknowing" spectators to go by when they go to our shows, if they ever hear about them. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Wayne

[Guest Randy Berger]

Wayne, that's a good thought. Why doesn't AACA come up with a small, but to the point, "car etiquette" folder that could be reproduced easily (one sheet) that would tell non-car people the general rules of behavior. It would be a lot better than shouting "Don't touch the freakin' car".

[Guest imported_PackardV8]

NO ONE can buck the trend and win. But that does not mean that the trend won't CHANGE either!

Back in the early 70's the trend was to radicaly chop late 30's thru early 60's HD's and Indians. Much like is going on today with cars. I can remeber actualy digging excellent original parts out the trash on trash day in front of suburbanite houses. Later, about the mid 80's the trend reversed and many choppers were brought back to stock.

I'm not sure that complaining or trying to be an activist for originality will ever have any significant effect with the current trend. DO I LIKE the 31 as it appears in the eBay ad???? NO!

However, the classic vehicle world MUST MOVE ON. THAT MEANS coming up with and allowing for a few modern improvements to old iron some of which are obvious. The HD and Indian can be restored to near factory show room condition AND be mechanicaly suitable for modern demands (or at least real close to modern demands). A great deal of the future for old iron is the available of parts and certain miodernization or improvements.

WITNESS the 55-57 Chevy. A high school kid can build one complete out of a cataloug. Good quality replacement parts are the key.

[oldpacrats]

personelly i have nothing against the hot rodders, but if you start with a piece of junk-do what ever you want with it. its really upsetting that among that crowd they wnat the best possible car to tear apart. i'm really a packard guy but i do have other brands too. i recently was the second high bidder on a 31 chevy 3 window coupe with 49k, original paint,original intieror, 3rd owner, and the car was sitting in a chevy dealer show room half its life. the last second high bidder was a street rodder. i wrote him to express that theres lots of solid cars around for hot rods, but this car should be preserved as is- he never wrote back. i also wrote the seller in hopes that there would be a problem in the sale, but never heard back. the things we look for in a low milage car, such as suspension components that arent wore out, doors that the hinges and latches arent wore out, a rear end thats not noisy or wore out, useable intierior, these are things they take off so why pay more for them?

[Guest BigKev]

Here is my 2 cents on this subject. I really think a majority of people today want to drive something different rather that the econoboxes being sold today. This is why the kids are customing the hell out of the Hondas and the such. Just to be different.

When is comes to old cars people like them, and want to drive them. Most people either cant afford to have multiple cars, or really want to adrive any car they are going to dump a lot of money into. The problem with doing a full resto on a very old car besides the the actual cost is the fact is that it's not practical to drive everyday for most people. Once you get into the 1950,60,70s cars that becomes les of a problem. But no one I know would drive a 34 Packard as their daily driver on a 70 mile round trip commute in LA traffic everyday. It's just not practical. But i see people all the time with 60's and 70's cars and rodded older that could go to a car show tomorrow on my commute everyday.

But to a person that wants to drive there old car, but doesnt have the skill or wants to deal the cost of maintaing the older engines and transmissions and other parts, swapping a newer powertrain and upgraded systems makes more sense. Plus most poeple want the same comforts that they take for granted in the newer cars. AC, powerbrakes, powersterring, cd players, etc. So they want the look and uniqueness of and old car, but with the drivablity and parts availabilty of a new car.

Obviously there are expections for every case. Personally I like the fact my Packard still has the original powertrain and wont ever swap it. But more and more people care about the look, performance, and comfort rather than the originality or the history. If they remade every part for our Packards like they do the Fords and Chevys, then maybe people would not be a quick to tear up these cars.

[Guest Kevin AZ]

Mr. Pusbutton......good point! But we baby boomers are the blame. A few years ago families were just that; they were families! Familes then contained 6-7-8 or 9 people. Today we are 2.1 per family etc. The family as we know it has changed as we used to know it! You wanna have NO immigration issues? Then start putting some babies on the planet in the USA! We need to have more children NOT less! We'll then have the children we need to pass our Packards along to!

Think about it!

There are less of us to pass our old Packards on to today? Too many of us chasing the American dream!

Consider passing your Packard on to a young and true Packard enthusiast. Criag H and I have discussed this at great length. Who gets your Packard should you or we pass away? Family, who will sell it or or will it be to the true younger Packard enthusiast who will take our car(s) to the NEXT generation!

Frankly, I'm no longer want to throw up when I see a Packard hot rod. Instead, I'm thankful that that the Packard marque still survives!

Kevin

Tucson, AZ

Kevin

Tucson AZ

[Guest Packardsforever]

This is my thoughts exactly. I am 38 with a 2 1/2 yr. old daughter and a 8 week old son. I really want to teach them both about the rich history about Packards and create some great memories. That being said it is really an expensive hobby and I am currently seeking a Packard that I can keep and enjoy with my family for years and years. The main problem is it is just so expensive and I sure can't afford the restoration of one. I guess I'll keep looking, no offense to anyone but the hot rods make me sick. These cars were engnineering wonders for there time and more than that if you keep it original it is literally like stepping back in time. My 2 1/2 year old has taken a ride in a 49 Packard and she just loved it!

[mrpushbutton]

Packardsforever--stay in the game, save what you can--the prices on all but the really rare stuff (Dietrich open 12's, etc.) WILL come down, as supply exceeds demand. I just hope you beat some street rod guy to that good car!

[Guest Packardsforever]

how will supply increase with these cars becoming more and more scarce? Not trying to be arguementive but they ain't making any new Packards and every year that goes by there are fewer and fewer. I really don't see prices coming down unless some major economy crisis occurs and then I probably won't want one becasue of circumstances. Can you tell I'm being pessimistic? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[mrpushbutton]

Packardsforever--OK, this is what will happen. We all go the way of all flesh. The men who are now in their 70's-and up who currently comprise the majority of pre-war Packard owners will go to that big swap meet in the sky, and when this starts, it's all going to happen at once, since they are a uniformly aged group (not spread out over 30 or 40 years, more like 10-15 years difference in age). There won't be a like number of individuals to come along who like/revere the cars in the quanity as that generation did (they remember the cars from their youth). The cars are generally slower than lets say a 1960's car, which will limit their appeal to younger buyers, who remember 60's cars from their youth, and drive their modern cars/SUVS faster than hell. The laws of supply and demand state that prices will remain high for any goods that are desired, and in limited supply. Once the demand is diminished, and there are more units on the market than there is demand for (many collector's kids just see that Packard in the garage as future CASH $$$ for them, they don't want the car) the prices will come down. Dump any commidity on the market all at once and the price of the individual units WILL come down.

[Guest Packardsforever]

O.K. Mrpushbutton so I have to wait another 10-15 years, GEEZ! I've already been waiting 20 years as it is! Seriously I hope you are right but I do have my doubts. I don't have to have a pre-war even though I do like them, I also like 47-54 models.

[Guest imported_Packards1]

Mr. Pushbutton, any stock picks for us also?

[Guest dongle]

Around here many of the guys I see with pre war classics (no one take up that argument!!!) are of the 40 to 50's crowd. I think you'll have a MUCH longer wait than you suspect for prices to drop.

I would argue that Packard prices haven't seen the wild fluctuations as with other vehicles. As a result, I believe they will be more immune to the flights of fancy experienced by other 'cars'.

Prices may stagnate over the long term or may even get a little soft. But don't look to them falling at all.

Back to the original post. Has anyone contacted the knucklehead who is offering that coupe for sale - to see what pieces are left over? As mentioned up top, if he has most of it left this may be the best opportunity to get what looks like a pretty restorable car at what I suspect would be a pretty good price (if its all there????). How many of this body style are around anyway, (there are a couple in here) but after that??.

DONgle

[Pontiac59]

It looks just plain goofy on those tiny 15" wheels. It needs something bigger, preferrably done in a style resembling the original wheels for the car. Other than that, not so bad. Put a '55 Packard 374 in it and go have fun. I don't see where any of the mods on this can't be changed. It beats what's happened to some of the ones I've found; I know of a '55 that may go to scrap in the near future. I need to pull the taillights out of it at the least, maybe the dash, and see if the motor is full of water or not.

[mrpushbutton]

Packards 1 asks "Mr. Pushbutton, any stock picks for us also?"

NO--I defer to Jim Kramer-the MAD MONEY guy

[Tom M]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">How many of this body style are around anyway, (there are a couple in here) but after that??.</div></div>

I am a proud owner of one. But as of right now mine is in sorry shape but she will be back running someday.

I wonder if this one on Ebay they will be stripping off any of them parts. Like bumpers, tail light etc. If so I would not mind garbage picking in their scrape pile. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

[Guest imported_Speedster]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If so I would not mind garbage picking in their scrape pile. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> </div></div>

Yes, Even tho we Don't like that these cars are getting Parted-Out, there is the Positive Side, that 'Other Folks will have some badly Needed parts for their cars'. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> And the availability of Pre-war parts is Only going to get worse. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />