This 1949 Packard is said to have a frame off restoration eight years ago and then stored. Perhaps the owner ran out of money to have the nose rechromed. The car runs and drives great, although the seller states they have to jump start it. The paint looks nice in the pictures, but the seller says it needs to be redone. The interior looks OK. Perhaps this could be a nice car with just a little work? All the parts are included except for a battery. Even a parts car is included! If the electrical system is really working properly, why hasn’t the seller simply installed a battery? It’s for sale here on craigslist in Goodrich, Michigan for a very reasonable $5,500.
This may be the first car that is in BETTER shape than described. Very nice!!
First off, if you look at the shape of the battery, it’s a very hard one to find. At least I couldn’t find one back in the mid-70s and for years would jump it to start it. (Melted several cheap pairs of jumper cables from jumping 12v-6v)
Back in those days the 48-50 model Packard was the least desirable but I hope that’s changed by now. These are really great cars. Smooth riding, gets 22-24 mpg on the highway and that straight eight engine is smooth as butter. If it was 1/4th the distance and I was 1/4th my age I wouldn’t be writing this, I’d be driving to get it!
This brings back memories. I restored a 1950 Standard 8, ( with Ultramatic, 1st year) very similar to this back in the 80’s. It, for me, was a HUGE project. But it was all worth it, the day I rolled that baby down the road at 80 mph, like nothing. While restoring it, I had a total of 4 parts cars. (One I bought, just to get the visor) It was a beautiful car, and even though, it didn’t have the pizzazz of the early Packard’s, it was still a very nice car. The battery is a 6 volt tractor battery, and can still be found at Farm stores. One feature that was really cool, was the gauges had that green material that glowed, and a black light, so all you saw were the needles and numbers. Far out, man. The price seems right on, as we sold our Packard a few years a go, not as nice, for $3500, and needed a re-restoration, as we had the car for 30 years. That straight 8 ran so smooth, I was told, you could balance a nickel on the head while it was running. Never tried it, but it it was smooth. At shows, people would say, “What kind of car is that”? I got Hudson, Studebaker, and when I said, “no it’s a Packard”, many had no idea what it was.
The seller said the “car needs paint”. What am I missing? The paint looks good in the pictures. Somebody needs to give this Packard a new home, and fast.
I’ve had over 30 1948 – 50 Packards, still have a ’48 Super 8 Convertible. This one is not the typical Standard 8 or Deluxe 8. It’s a Super 8 with the larger 327 straight 8 [but not the big 356 with the 9 main bearing crank]. This one also has the optional overdrive and the automatic clutch [Electromatic]. That’s a damn good price for what you get!