In the 1949 film noir Impact, starring Brian Donleavy, Ella Raines, and Helen Walker, Donleavy drives a Packard convertible (described as a “roadster” in the movie) that’s nearly identical to the one on offer here, a 1948 Custom Eight Victoria Convertible. In the movie it goes over a cliff, but don’t worry, it was only a model.
This car is in the Syracuse, New York area and listed here on eBay with low bids not meeting the reserve, and it’s definitely a project. But as in the movie, it’s just the kind of car an industrialist with three factories in Denver would drive. Not everyone loves the period bathtuby styling, but I do.
Whether or not this is the Impact movie car, it’s still a commanding and pretty rare Packard—only 1,100 were made. It’s the 200th car made in the 22nd Series, with a 356-cubic-inch L-head straight eight (producing 160 horsepower) and riding on a 127-inch wheelbase.
The owner is candid in admitting that he bought the car for parts, after finding it stored in a barn where it had been for 45 years. He was after Custom Eight parts but “quickly realized this car was too rare and valuable to break up for parts.” The restoration was started, but alas now the owner is retired and downsizing, and there’s no room for the Packard at the new place. The collection at one point included five Packards, and this is the last to go.
The car is described as almost 100 percent complete, missing only a few exterior trim pieces, and the trunk and upper right door molding. It needs floors, rocker panels and the rear half of the trunk. New heavy-duty rockers come with the car, as do a set of four new Coker wide whitewalls, accompanied by restored hubcaps with cloisonne centers.
Other parts that accompany the car include a good used battery tray, a used lower grille bar, a cormorant hood ornament, a rechromed left taillight with a seal, and tubing for the hydraulic system that operates the power top, windows, and seat. Extra spare tires, front and rear bumpers, and assorted hardware are also part of the deal. The engine is free and turns by hand, but the condition is unknown. The top structure is all there, but the rear wooden bow is broken.
“This car needs and deserves a restoration just because of its rarity and value,” the owner says. “It also can be used for parts but that would be unfortunate.” The good: excellent front fenders and hood, with the fenders stripped and primed. The frame and inner fenders are solid, but there is fiberglass in the lower outer door skins.
A caveat is that no registration or paperwork comes with the car. It’s sold on a bill of sale only. These cars look spectacular when fully restored (or seen in old black-and-white movies). The 22nd Series was at the top of the line and sold as 1948 and 1949 models. The Custom Eight had the longest wheelbase other than the Super Eight limousine and seven-passenger sedan. These Victoria convertibles came with all-leather interiors and were listed for $4,300—just under the $4,700 long-wheelbase sedan.
Whoever buys this car will have a ton of work to do. But the potential reward is big. Classic.com lists the average sale of a 1948 Packard Custom Eight at $43,173, but this convertible is at the top end of the desirability scale.
You have to really love Packards to want to take this on. Hydraulics to operate all the be power accessories and the owner includes the tubing? No thanks. But I have to admit it’s a fascinating piece of automotive history.
I own a 1948 Super 8 Victoria, a rust free car from the Mohave desert area. This car is certainly worth restoring, they are easy to drive and cruise well at highway speeds with the overdrive.
All the hydraulics are available newly manufactured, and set up to use ATF.
The ‘Rear Grille” looks very similar to the Tucker. Quite a project, hope there is a Packard fan left with enough energy and cash to take this on. Parts use would be a real shame.
There’s also another movie where a Packard convertible like this was shown… Back to the future had Doc Brown driving one back in 1955
Hey Mcfly, Make like a tree and leave!
Great car, and great movie. But his name is spelled D O N L E V Y.
Bathtub? No. It’s fuselage style.
A cute blonde in my H.S. class had a mint 11 year old 1948 Packard ragtop, black with a white top and white walls. Despite being an “old” car in the late 50’s, it was still distinctive and a good match for the then driver.
Hopefully, the seller’s car will be bought by someone with the time and wherewithal to give it the proper restoration it deserves.
Give me an inflatable mattress, coffee, cigarettes,and a supply of junk fast food and I’ll do the resto for the new owner. 45 years master mechanic, aircraft restoration. Y’all know how I feel about Packards. If this is broken up for parts crime against humanity. Hydralics are easy. I’m not joking. I’d love to save this before I check out for good. What a stunner. I got your six on the labor. Nice find. Buyer hit me up.
Doc Brown in Back the the Future drove a ’49 Packard Custom 8 Victoria Convertible like this one.
Great Scott!
What is the deal with all these Packards on BFs lately? First a 1939 120 driver, a 1940 Limo and now this one. This L8 or straight 8 in this 2dr convertible has got tons of torque and were great power engines.This model is highly collectible and absolutely, worthy of a thorough restoration. I’m sure Bill McCloskey is having a fit reading about this one. Just a stunning find.
Well Packards are better than hearing about the other 95 percent of the cars posted on Barnfinds: Mustangs, Mustangs, and more Mustangs. ZZZzzz…
HC,
Yeah, always wanted a Custom 8 Victoria, but “settled” on my 48 Super 8 Victoria instead, mostly because it was a rust-free California desert car.
Bill, I’m sure you had fewer headaches dealing with rust and welding in new rockers, pans and door skins like this one will need. I read the write up again and the list on body work was long. I was also lucky on my 48 Business coupe and rust issues.
Bill, I read an interesting article about 40s-50s Chryslers and Packards being highly prized as NYC taxi cabs with their fluid drive, semi automatics because they hardly ever had to use a clutch. I’m only 2 wires away from connecting to my rebuilt carb on my L8 Chrysler New Yorker. I have shop manuals but their not as detailed as I need.
After the last postwar Packard was posted with its “lively” discussion on design, let’s hope that’s behind us and move on. This design is certainly controversial amongst many. That being said, this one deserves all the love it can be offered. It’s still a mighty Packard no matter its dress.
I believe the Packard in movie Impact was a Super 8 Victoria which was the cheaper smaller-front-end Packard convertible model for the less-wealthy disadvantaged buyers like myself who ultimately loved the top-line Custom 8 Victoria here in BarnFinds. I hope I’m mistaken but sadly I think the movie sacrificed a real Packard Super 8 Victoria in that shocking cliff-plunging crash-trash scene?!?! If only Packard could have offered their juicy new Ultramatic automatic-transmission earlier 1946-8 to better help sweep & swoop potential buyers off their feet, that could have been possibly wonderful for Packard’s successful future prosperity in the here-after!!!!