For the first half of the 20th Century, Packard was one of the most respected names in luxury automobiles. Sadly, that ended in 1958 after the ill-fated acquisition by Studebaker in 1954. But in the 1920s, if you were driving a Packard, people knew that you had it made, riding around town in a classy car like this 1923 Sport Touring. This 4-door convertible is celebrating its 100th birthday, but to do it in style someone will need to restore this once-fine automobile. Located in Wichita, Kansas, this treasure is available here on craigslist for $25,000. What a great tip from Barn Finder T.J. “23 Skidoo!”
For more than 50 years, Packard built a reputation for fine engineering, long life, luxury, and prestige. It was often the car of choice among upscale buyers. Over seven decades, more than 1.6 million cars were built bearing the Packard logo, even the “Packardbakers” of 1957-58. In 1923, Packard debuted the Sport Touring and it had one of the first Packard “single six” engines. Lighter in weight than its predecessor motor, the single six displaced 268 cubic inches and had an output of 56 hp.
The Sport Touring was noted for its disc wheels, low-slanted windshield, vent wings, leather seats, and rear-seat windscreen. It rode on a 126-inch wheelbase, which provided ample room for four doors and seating for at least four passengers to ride in style. The car quickly became a symbol of the “Roaring Twenties.” This was the kind of automobile that you would put on your best “zoot suit” and take a spin.
We don’t know any of the history of this 100-year-old Packard. From the looks of things, the seller found it stuffed away in a barn or some other equally depressing place and brought it home to resell. It appears to be completely original and likely off the road for more years than some of our readers may have been alive. It will take a ton of work to restore and for those parts you can no longer find, you might have to make. But when you got done, you’d be “the cat’s pajamas” tooling around in this cool artifact. Maybe even make a stop at your favorite “juice joint.” (Okay, that’s it for the 1920s slang).
I love this car, sure wish I had the time and the money to clean it up… I really love this car !!
Estate sale? If so, how very sad that the former owner didn’t get her on the road. I hope he or she has a nice one up yonder.
I love it, but it’ll take someone with deeper pockets than mine to do it justice.
Do you mean Juke Joint???
That’s a nice-lookin’ auld beastie. Must’ve been off the road for longer than it was on, by the looks of it.
“Zoot Suit”? Unlikely clientele for a Packard. (30s, 40s)
Exactly.
Russ Dixon— Packard bought Studebaker, not the other way around. Many folks make the same mistake. Nice, big old Packard here!
Love the pre-war examples. Thank you for including this old beauty in BF. Too many corvette-charger-cuda-challenger-mustang’s for my taste in BF.
Just from the pictures it looks to be complete,, I would love the chance to tinker with it see if I can get it running but someone with more skills and money than me would have to take on the restoration.
Wasn’t it ‘juke joint’?
Actually both juke joint and juice joint are ‘things’. Juke joint is where music is played on a jukebox. A juice joint is a shady casino where the dice have devices in them so that they can be manipulated by magnets.
Why do people just assume, with zero backing it up, that Studebaker bought Packard? Studebaker was a money pit!
I can only guess the reason is that Studebaker made it to the mid 1960s , while Packard was really dead by 1956. Packards looking like Studebakers in the last two years wouldn’t have helped that thinking .
People are dumping this old sheet metal as fast as they can now the next generation doesn’t want them they are just not worth restoring sorry
Yet Studebaker outlived Packard. I own both and prefer Studebaker for innovation, economy and performance.
My dream car, in sedan form. I would dial up what needed to be done to make it roadworthy and drive the wheels off it. If I weren’t eyebrows deep in a house restoration, I’d be ALL OVER this one ! Would make a nice mate for my 25 truck.
Hay burner’s in the shop, so let’s ankle on down to the Blind Pig. Or see a flick with the It Girl. Maybe take your Daddy’s Packhard?
This would make a nice restoration project . The asking price for the condition it is in is a bit to steep for what you are getting.
Flippers who are trying for mega buck sales need to get stuck with with no sale for a while until they come up with a more reasonable asking price, so as to make it more likely some one will buy and restore it.
Is this still available? does anyone know how to locate the owner?