According to the seller, Packard built fewer than 2000 of these Packard Six five-passenger touring coupes in 1937, the body style’s first year. Packard sold an even larger two-door coupe in the 120 series (8 cylinder) similar to this, but the more compact and less formal Six sure makes a snappy custom. Among ’30s full-fendered coupes, it’s hard to beat the Packard front end. With the right paint, wheels, and tires, this car becomes an eye-popping jaw-dropper, and it can be yours! This small-block-powered Batavia, Ohio cruiser awaits the lucky high bidder here on eBay.
What looks like a Lokar shifter selects the gears of what we must assume is the ubiquitous TH350 transmission. Depending on where your needle points on the Control-Freak-o-Meter you will either rejoice or cringe recognizing that this mature build has progressed beyond the frustrating rust repair and engineering stage. Someone else has endured the gritty, unglamorous work… rust and fluids filling your eye and ear sockets, recoiling from something in front of you only to knock your head on a jagged spike of rusty metal behind you, and other fun activities never depicted on hot rod TV shows.
This car features new wiring and the stock Art Deco gauges are rebuilt. Underneath this Packard you’ll find a Ford Mustang II front end and a Chevrolet rear end, parts that underpin countless hot rods built from the ’70s through today. There might be newer options, but you can still get everything for the Mustang II at your local auto parts store, and it’s a highly capable upgrade over stock.
Enthusiasts may wonder why the builder eschewed the correct Packard Six engine color, since it’s reasonably close to this hue. Still, the subdued tones on the Chevrolet 350 cid “small block” seem appropriate for a Packard (even a custom). You might look at this car and think “Sure; it looks like every other 1930s two-door sedan,” but in person, 1930 Packards impart an impressive physical presence that photographs don’t convey. I plan to own a (stock) ’20s or (custom) ’30s Packard some day, and the extra room of this two-door sedan (Touring Coupe in Packard parlance) should appeal to anyone who envisions sharing their two-door custom with family members above the age of eight. With an unknown reserve and no “Buy It Now” stated, it’s anyone’s guess what it will take to win the auction. What’s the right price for this black beauty?
Kinda looks like it is rolling on 4 space saver spare tires.
Love the 6 cylinder junior Packards. This one with the SBC, auto, and poor choice in upholstery, not so much.
Not really a Packard anymore, just a restomod that happens to have a Packard body.
A late friend of mine had an adventurous father who, after world war 2, bought a 1937 Packard 120 sedan and drove it overland from UK to Southern Rhodesia. Apart from punctures and a broken spring blade, they had no serious problems. On the night that they arrived at their destination a bunch of hot headed university students bought the car from them, and 3 weeks later promptly drove it back to UK, also with no major problems. Great cars.
Relisted now with a buy it now price of $18,900.00. Reserve not met at $5,100 in the first auction.
I can understand the person put time and money into this to customize it to their tastes. To others it is only worth $5k.
For the buy it now price you can find a much better looking one elsewhere.
I love the style of these,and you wouldn’t see
yourself at every rod run/show.The covers-over
the valve covers are kinda cool..?,didn’t look like a s.b.c
I don’t recall ever seeing that before.
Really don’t like the interior color,maybe if outside was
a shade of brown similar,it would look much better.
Very cool,even if its been chevyified,…which almost always
hurts me.!….LOL
Again, rattle can black ruins another car
I appreciate that it was preserved. I am glad the vehicle was shared.
To steal a line from the famous Australian movie “The castle”, “ Tell Him he’s dreaming”.
Valve covers look like Studebaker.
Vince;
You are correct, that’s an early Studebaker V8 engine with the 4-stud valve cover hold down acorn nuts.
Me and a buddy bought a ‘37 120 four door for $75 around 1958. Straight eight, floor shifter an twin side mounts. Friend tried to speed shift and blew the trans. Towed it to his dad’s dairy and never saw it again.
It might look like a Stude engine but the last SBC’s had 4 bolts on the top of the valve covers, look at the intake, no valley cover
Pete
The intake is not Studebaker but I am sure the valve covers are.