Make: | Packard |
Model: | DeLuxe Eight |
Type: | Sedan |
Year: | 1948 |
Mileage: | 32,500 |
VIN: | 4862-0001 |
Color: | Blue |
Engine: | 288 |
Cylinders: | 8 |
Transmission: | Manual |
Interior color: | Gray |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Brockport, New York, United States |
This 1948 Packard was a stroke and heart attack recovery gift to myself about 4 years ago. I bought it from an 84 year old who picked it up from a collection in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania collection was sold to pay medical costs for that senior owner. I really think someone younger should buy this car or it is never going to get finished, but I will sell to an old guy who will just enjoy owning it and doing little things like the last three of us.
The car has some interesting options and it is the upscale model of the Junior series. It has the short lived gray woodgrain on the dash and window moldings, noted on a similar car in Robert Neal's book. The seats are a striped broadcloth in Super Eight style. It has a factory Appleton spotlight with a rear view mirror build in. An optional sunshade is clipped to the visor and a compass is mounted on the windshield divider. There is also what appears to be a chrome fragrance ball mounted on the divider post. Neat stuff that sets the car apart and looks good with the Packard Blue paint and gray interior.
The car has been licensed and insured since I bought it, but I haven't driven it much due to other cars that are shinier. This one should be painted. I have hit it with a buffer and it comes up OK, but it is my fifth car so I'm lax. When I bought it all the trim was removed pending paint. I have all of it for the next owner. I am pretty sure it will be high on your list.
It is a solid car structurally. The right front floor picture shows a "mouse hole" in the floorpan. There are a few more and some at the edges of the trunk floor. However, the rockers, fenders, door posts are all firm and solid.
I replaced the lower left door hinge pin. It seems to bind up on these cars. It works fine now, but the upholstery for that door is still off awaiting a redo.
The Cormorant hood ornament has been rechromed as well as the taillight bezels and the license light frame. I have a NOS tail and signal light harness lying across the trunk floor to let the curls lay flat, another unfinished job.
The car has four Coker tires, about four years old, mounted on fresh painted wheels. The brakes and brake lines were done. The fuel tank was removed and cleaned. Then new lines made and a new fuel pump was installed.
I put the new battery in. You might lose a point at the Packard Nationals for the aftermarket bungie cord, but the battery was slightly different and I haven't made a new hold down,
The car starts right up with the original foot start. It has a skip that I haven't chased down yet. It is a three speed and really do fine taking off in second. The clutch was replaced by the previous owner and it is smooth. You can crack walnuts on the garage floor with the tires, that's smooth.
I think if it was driven a good 500 miles it would come around to a fine driver, just sits around too much. It has the feel and performance of a straight eight Buick Super for comparison. It feels like a quality car to drive.
If you are like the last three of us owners you will like it. If you think it needs an LS6 and disc brakes the usable original parts will certainly help finance your project. It is September, a great time to slide this one into a warm workspace and come out with something special next season. Cars like this are getting scarce. I drove this one out of the garage this morning and took the pictures. It runs and no spiders or snakes were crawling around when I moved it. That's a real good thing.
Please don't make any offers unless you or an agent comes to look at the car. It is not a show car, not a wife's grocery getter, not a teen's first car. It is a car for an experienced adult who knows what they are getting into. If I had more time and space I wouldn't do this. Who knows, if you buy this car from me you might be writing the same ad in a few years. No regrets!
Bernie 585-797-7421. Thank you