My next project? 1921 Packard Coupe

3 minute(s) of a 548 minute read

Don't look now but after some serious looking at other possibilities it now seems certain that I will be taking on the Packard as my next project. Mechanically it seems very original, complete and un-molested right down to the seventh spark plug. The body is interesting as from the windscreen back it is aluminum. It will need a speedo and the hand controls for spark & gas and a horn button from the centre of the steering wheel. I believe that I can construct an attractive sport roadster using much of the original panels. Watch this space......

8-25-2010

Chocks away! 

With the Packard secure in our car port (there isn't room in the garage/ workshop right now), the lights, the left hand front fender, the apron below the radiator and the running board have been removed. The plan is to remove all the fenders, running board/side-steps, valances and hood before starting work on stiffening the timber frame up to a point where the body can be safely removed. Having got this far I have been able to uncover the Chassis number *1128317* so now the car can be accurately dated.

The whole car will be dismantled down to a bare frame before rebuilding can commence in ernest. Meanwhile I know that I will be looking for a few things in order to complete this restoration. These will include a 23 inch disk wheel, a speedo and probably the smaller instruments, the spark and throttle levers from the centre of the steering wheel and an early series hinged radiator cap. Any of the early Packard people reading this "Please look in your spares and boxes of bits" 

Today's photographs include the Packard, the drivers side floor boards with remains of the original linoleum and aluminum edging intact. The dash as is at present. The cast aluminum "toe board" and pedals which are weathered show little or no signs of wear. 

Having spent some time inspecting the underside of the car, more than ever I am convinced that it has done very few miles. The entire exhaust system is the original and there are very few signs of miss-use or make-shift repairs. The lining on the foot brake bands shows little or no wear. Having removed both front shackle pins when removing the apron I found both to be virtually un-worn. 

Now a question. I have found this body style referred to as either an Opera Coupe or a Doctors Coupe. Which is more correct? 

Watch this space!

Funny how these things "just turn up". A friend who dropped in to inspect the new project brought an arm full of old magazines that he thought I may like to see. This cartoon turned up at on the back page of the Winter edition of Old Car Illustrated (No Connection) Vol 2 No4 of 1976. 

Enjoy!