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92 Years Young: 1925 Packard

How often do you see an original condition, 92 year old car for sale? Well, this 1925 Packard is available, and is relatively solid needing some attention to the interior. Despite its patina, and untouched looks, surprisingly this Packard runs. Elegant, with possibilities, this classy American sedan is offered at $8,000. Find it here on craigslist out of Willows, California.

It is hard to believe from looking at this engine that it runs. With plenty of dirt, oil, and grime, this engine appears as if it hasn’t been touched in 70 years. Despite the dirt and grime, there appears to be no rust in the engine compartment. Although that’s not saying that there couldn’t be some hidden.

Looking over the body shows some sign of hope up until the point of looking at the roof section. Sadly there is no roof, and the interior has not fared well from it missing. It is unclear what is missing, and what would be needed to have a complete roof on this Packard. The majority of the body is straight, with only a few minor areas of surface rust. There is still a great deal of factory paint remaining, with some fine pin-striping. From what can be seen, the interior looks like a train wreck. Certainly making for a suitable restoration candidate, this Packard is a beauty in its own way. What would you do with this early American classic?

Comments

  1. HoA Howard A Member

    I believe this is a Packard Six 265 Club Sedan. Man, this one is NOT for the faint of heart ( or wallet). From what I read, this was one of the cheaper Packards offered ( although, it sold for $2,725 in 1925, or $37,370 dollars today, when you could probably buy a Ford for a couple hundred bucks) Huge project here, but it’s just so rare, I find it pretty hard to believe they had it running. If so, a testament to Packard’s engines. Not the fanciest Packard, and restoration costs could put you under water in no time, Hemmings has one similar,( 7 passenger, this I think was a 5 passenger) older restoration, for $25g’s. Interest is waning for these, but still plenty of folks that realize just what a Packard is. Sadly, it will take them a while ( and a pile of cash) to experience it.

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  2. wynkin

    My neighbour is the same age and she is in better condition.

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    • Jeffro

      Omg! Too funny.

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      • Woodie Man

        really……….

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    • '63 Lark Daytona ragtop

      @wynkin She must be swapping-out some rebuilt or remanufactured parts!

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  3. nessy

    Alright, as a Packard nut myself, I admire this car in any condition but when the foolish seller says that the car runs and is in good shape? What do these people think, that all buyers are stupid or what? Gee can we drive it home too? Oh wait? The steering wheel fell off. The wood is so far gone that the sides of the car are falling over and that engine looks like it has not run in decades. Oh I still like the car but the seller is full of bs.

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    • MG'zer

      He only needs one person to beleave (and buy)

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    • Keith

      ….as are most delusional classic car sellers these days

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  4. Anthony

    The huge panoramic sunroof is nice…. must be really hard to steer with the tiny steering wheel and no power steering.. Seriously, its too bad it needs so much work… it will take a lot of time and effort to bring this one back

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  5. 68 custom

    big project there, to bad, a Packard is a well built car and I bet you could get the motor running pretty easily, the same could not be said for getting it street worthy.

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  6. Peter Own

    I somehow doubt this is ever going to be rebuilt. As already said interest in these mid-20ies cars is waning as those who remember them are dying out. And as a fairly basic model and too early to be one of THE classic models the value will not be equal to the cost of resto which will be on par with the resto cost of the most exclusive models. Much as I like these I think it is a lost cause.

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  7. Tommy Brown

    It would make a beautiful Rat Rod I think.

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  8. Wayne

    Seller might as well said, “only needs a buff to be ready for pebble beach.” Oh, wait, I think the just pulled out of a pebbly beach.

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  9. waynard

    You know, honestly, I’m a bit tired of hearing (seeing) comments about anyone who understands or appreciates these cars dying off. That’s a load of crap and it’s indicative of people who clearly are on the fringes of the hobby with little understanding of it. Yes, the elders that were around when these were new are dying, but there is a very large collector base for cars like this that will willingly take on this restoration or, if your so inclined, resto-rodding, with sympathy, it to make it an everyday driver.

    It’s not all about money and the cost of restoration and being underwater. It’s about appreciating the fine automobiles of the last century, their design and quality of construction. I would gladly take this on as a project and see it on the streets again, money be damned.

    Time for a few of you to do a little homework, get involved with the clubs that appreciate these cars and learn about quality, design, history, the manufacturers and leaders of the industry that put us all here before spouting off.

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    • HoA Howard A Member

      Hi waynard, it’s refreshing to hear that. If the hobby is going to survive, it’s because of folks like you. I can only go by what I see and have experienced. While in NYS last summer, I took in several shows. While the midwest shows feature mainly the big 3, out east seemed to have everything. Being an old fart, I tend to notice who is looking at what, and the 1930 Franklin I spoke of earlier, not one younger person was looking at it, and the owners were older themselves. I disagree, it has a lot to do with money. Years ago, restorations didn’t cost as much as a home in the Catskills, and if a younger person is going to do that, it more than likely will be a car they can relate to, not this. I doubt even a resto-moder would want this.

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      • Keith

        Hi Howard,
        I always enjoy your comments and you are most often dead-on in your assessments. Being a resident of the NYS area myself, I see what you see at car shows: The older cars like the Caddy in this article, Franklins, Hudsons, etc. are being walked past by most people under the age of 40. Even I myself, at age 42, have gravitated away from 40’s and older cars into 70’s and even (gasp) 80’s and 90’s cars. The reasons are many but for me (who restores as a hobby) the reasons are:
        parts availability and cost
        initial buy-in cost
        drivability
        That last factor is huge here in NY/NJ. There was no way in hell I was taking my 46 Hudson or my 51 Olds onto most roads around here where 70mph delegates you to the “slow lane”. And let’s be honest, debatable styling aside, a 70’s or 80’s car is light years ahead of 50’s and earlier era cars as far as comfort and safety.
        I do think we will still see cars like your Franklin and my Hudson at shows here and there for the next 10-15 years, but past that……..boy I don’t know.

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  10. Rod

    Waynard has valid points. Personally I would prefer to do the work than buy something that has been repaired. I’ve seen it time and again where the previous repairs weren’t done correctly and you wind up spending more money to fix something you have already paid a good sum for. Give me the car with all the flaws showing and then I know what I have.
    As for the Packard I hope someone takes it on as a restoration.

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  11. Bill McCoskey Bill McCoskey Member

    If the seller has been able to make this engine run, then he did so after those photos were taken. Based on that photo showing the engine, it’s not rotated one degree for at least 50 years.

    I’ve owned hundreds [yes, hundreds] of Packards from the 1920s thru to the end in 1958. Unless there was a mechanical problem like a dropped valve or a seized main bearing, Packard engines rarely lock up to the point where a simple soak in a good brand of rust buster & ATF will free them in a matter of a few hours to a few days.

    In 1976 I bought a 1948 Packard Custom Eight Limo that had not moved in 20 years, and I drove it out of the junkyard – at the time I didn’t have a trailer, so we pumped up the tires, filled the brake system & bled it, added a battery, fuel, & water, changed the oil, & yanked it with a tow chain to break the ring lock. Then drove it 150+ miles from the DC suburb where it had sat, to a Packard meet in Lancaster, PA & back. That 9 main bearing straight eight engine was still running fine when I sold the car to a collector in Minnesota about 10 years later.

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  12. Gear Head Engineer

    First a Franklin, now a ’25 Packard. I think I’m going into car lust overload.

    Looks like a huge project, but any Packard from the ’20s is worth saving in my opinion. Would love to know the story on this one. Where did it sit and why?

    Pics aren’t great, but the sheet metal looks to be in pretty good shape. The wood, however, is a very different story.

    I hope somebody brings this one back to a driving condition. Even as it sits, you can tell this was a well made car.

    – John

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  13. Pete

    Waynard, I have been involved in the old car scene for 40 years including Cords and Packards. 20 years ago people would have been clambering over each other to get at this car.

    Since then mass produced cars from the childhood of younger enthusiasts have come into the limelight. If you look at the price development you must have noticed that younger machinery have climbed steeper price curves and not only from banger level.

    In addition the experience in dealing with this era of cars is simply not there in the younger guys.

    Visit the older established veteran car clubs across the world and you will see what I mean.

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  14. waynard

    Nothing I said contradicts your position. There are people out there who want this car and will restore it.

    And, I do attend car club meeting of all types in various locations and know there is still interest, just less of it.

    Do you honestly think these cars will just self-immolate and disappear?

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  15. nessy

    Again, I have to jump in on this one. I am also getting bored with the comments about the interest in early cars fading like the wind. Says who? I said this again and again, I am 40ish and although my interest in cars runs in every decade, the cars that really spark me are Pre War 2 classics. I have a number of friends around the same age or even younger who would just love to own a car from this era. Nobody is going to junk a car like this no matter what, it will always be safe.

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  16. My Stude is older than me

    Interest in old cars **is** shrinking. Why then are the prices of common pre-WW2 cars dropping? Supply and demand. If you know of pre-WW2 car clubs that are growing, I’d like to hear about them…I had a long talk with about this with both the NorCal Model A club and the Stude club. Passing the passion to a generation that doesn’t remember them when they were new is tricky.

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  17. Pete

    I do hope somebody will take it on. I am just not very sanguine. Can you see yourself taking it on vs the much more complete and better car at twice the price? For real, not just dreaming?

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  18. Melvin Burwell

    My mom was the same age as this car. She used to scare us telling us about the crank start Fords.

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