In modern-day times, we have what seems to be a vast variety of materials that are used to build automobiles. Wood is a bit old fashioned and low tech when it comes to cars nowadays. Although, wood gives a satisfying appearance and class to a vintage machine like this 1949 Packard Sedan Station Woody. While many woody’s have either been restored or are awaiting restoration, this gem is a mostly a survivor. Purchased from an estate sale after spending 47 years stored, this Packard has since been revived. Offered for $32,500, you can find this Woody right here on Barn Finds located in Greencastle, Pennsylvania.
The flat head Straight 8 is a runner, and has undergone a fair amount of work after its 47-year hibernation. The radiator was rebuilt, and fresh hoses circulate the coolant. The electrical system has been checked and tended to as needed, and the fuel system has been completely overhauled. The tank was cleaned and sealed, and fresh lines were installed. I am sure the engine underwent fresh fluids, along with a tune-up, and a carb rebuild. Now depending on your flavor, there is still a little room for tidying up the engine compartment from dust and dirt. On the other hand, part of me sort of likes the fact that this is not a fully restored woody, and shows signs of age and use.
Inside you will find an interior that is similar to sitting in the finest restaurant in New York. Architecturally beautiful, yet to the point. Although, this interior has aged quite well. You can find wear on the driver side door pull, and perhaps a bit of paint chipping on the back of the front seat frame. Although aside from that, both bench seats look phenomenal, and the Faux wood dash appears flawless. Even more incredible is that the headliner is stain and damage-free. At this stage, the radio is not operational, but I am quite sure there is hope to fix that. I would be willing to bet a vintage mercury vapor tube radio guy could work magic on the radio. The gauges are functional, but the clocks appear to not work. Despite that concern, this woody is quite nice.
While the wood trim has certainly classed up this already classy Packard, there is one thing worth mentioning. The car was resprayed some point in its past, as the original color is blue, but the current exterior color is black. Beyond that concern, the fit and finish of the body looks very nice. The wood is claimed to be original, and in excellent condition with a yearly treatment of beeswax. There is no evidence of rot from the wood or metal sections of this Packard. Although the seller has mentioned some repair work that occurred on the rear floor, and trunk area. The brightwork is still very presentable. Classy, charming, and a driver, this Packard Station Sedan is a wonderful find. Would you give this delightful Woody a new home?
Having owned a Packard of this vintage, I can’t let one go by without comment. I know it looks kind of haggered now, but in ’49, I believe, this was the most expensive car made, for all the car makers. All steel wagons were just coming in ( Jeep wagon) and wood bodied wagons were extremely expensive to make, for obvious reasons. If you wanted a wagon car, these were it. While it’s hard to tell the engine, it’s probably the 288, like mine. Doesn’t have the “electromatic clutch”, and may or may not have O/D. It was a popular feature on these. This Kanter, in NJ, has everything mechanical, body parts and trim might be a chore, but plenty of parts around, it just may cost you. At $35g’s, like in ’49, a wood bodied wagon will cost you plenty, and I know what it’s like to drive around in a 50’s era Packard. I hope the bidders know what they are buying.
Ah.the BF Packard Club………..my ’50 was an Ultramatic and Ive told the story ad nauseum .but seeing that Cormorant stirs something primeval in me. If I could get my hands on the miscreants who tore my Cormorant off the hood of my ’50 back in ’72, well, I’d box their ears as the old man used to say!
The color change is problematic and like most cars that need to be brought back to life, bring a boatload of cash. On a sidenote back in the antidiluvian eighties I actually saw a ’50 Packard wagon at a gas station in LA for sale. It looked like a fivee year old car…………asking $1500.00! Sic Transit Gloria
But this might be the epitome of the bathtub Packards
You know, Mw, I always worried about that, someone ripping off the Cormorant. Luckily, I only used the car for short rides. Not like it sat in a parking lot all day. It did NOT go with the car when we sold it, even though the new buyer asked for it. I said, “sorry, that was my grandpas” and it sits on my brothers mantle. Only pic I have of our car, sorry, pic of a pic. It was a grand old car and I loved driving it. I could see why my grandpa went with one in ’48. One test drive must have convinced him, he could’ve bought any car he wanted.
HoA- truth be told it was sitting in an Aamco yard in Bridgeport Connecticut after they ‘repaired” the tranny without authorization. The old man set out to teach me a lesson by doing nothing all winter while it sat in the snow.! I eventually got it back and sold it to a guy……
It was the top of the line with mo’ hair interior…..and every option they had. This Woodie would be fun though…basically a tin woodie like the ’49 and ’50 Fords with a metal framework and wood inserts save for the tailgate
I like the blackwalls on yours……..makes it look a little less bulbous
I thought that too, about the wide whites.
Had a ’50 limo and loved it! And just like
this car, it was wonderful too. The engine
and tranny were as smooth as fresh-churned butter, and the ride was not to be believed. Not even my newly bought 2010 Dodge Charger could match it! All I
can say to the younger crowd out there
that are thinking of buying one of these
beauties today is before you pull the trigger, ask the man that owns(ed) one.
i owned a ’55 Patrician and if I had the room I would but this, restore it and drive it. There’s nothing like a Packard of any year.
Loved mine too. But had to sell it to keep
the peace with Mom. I let a friend of mine borrow it for a date he had while I was on the road playing music. Long story short, his date left her panties lying
on the back seat. Well, Mom used my car
to drive to work the next day. And when
she checked in for work that day, the
security guard saw the panties on the back seat and pointed them out to her and boy was she ever embarrassed!
Needless to say, I got an earful from Mom when I got back home! I wound up selling it to a Packard collector who just
had to have it. I gotta say that I never did
get to live it down for quite some time but in the end we all had a good laugh over it.
I was around at a time there still plenty of Straight Eight’s roaming the neighborhood. They have their own sound as most cars did back then. Straight Eight’s didn’t have a fast sound like the new 409’s that lived right across the alley. Straight Eight’s from Packard, Pontiac, and Buick had a soothing we will get to where we are going no matter how long the drive sound. It was around the time when that pesky little Chevy V/8 was starting to make horse power that lead to many Ford, Dodge, Oldsmobile and Pontiac drivers to have angry faces.
love an i8, wish they made’em today, OHV’n cam.
Great dash and grill’n lookit dat bird ! 8^0
The battery looks like it should be ina 18 wheeler.
I say bring’em back, cloth covered wires and mechanical breaks…
the whole thing, esp a wagon…white ash (B 4 its all gone w/the EA Borer) and walnut or mahonogy. Match up the white walls or get rida dem…
Actually, that battery is a 6 volt farm tractor battery, and still available today. It covers a square hole in the inner fender, that was used to cool the battery while driving.
I had, for a short period of time, a 1951 Packard sedan. I am not sure of the model, but it was a lower line car. I was very young when I had the brilliant idea to buy it. Never got it running, wasn’t old enough to even drive, and Mom didn’t know I bought it. Dad was living across the country, so he was no help getting it going (it turned out he didn’t know much about cars, so that might have been for the best lol). I would have loved to drive it to high school, but that was a pipe dream.
One day I will have one to drive. Even better if it is a woody!
Sounds like you had a 200 Stevie. That
was the model that competed with the
Cadillac 61 in the early 50s. Unlike Packard, Cadillac wisely did away with
their cheap models and concentrated on
building what they were known for– big
luxurious cars that oozed cool. Had the
execs at Packard done this, the luxury car
market might’ve been different today.
Another thing the shouldn’t have done was to merge with Studebaker. Packard was still financially healthy at that time
and had they not acquired Studebaker,
they could’ve reversed their fortunes and
returned to the luxury car market from which they came. But all this is one man’s
opinion and you know what they say about opinions everyone has one and some may stink.
I agree that teaming up with Studebaker was a mistake. I actually think that was a mistake for both makes lol. They were better off separate…like my exwife & I lol.
If you want a truly beautiful woody, get a ’46’47’47 Ford Sportsman convertible. Metal fenders and hood, the rest beautiful wood. Dad bought my mother a ’48, with power windows! Just a great looking car. Wish I could afford one now.