A few years ago, we featured Don L’s collection of cars as a Barn Finds Exclusive. Well, he found buyers for a large number of his cars and motorcycles, but he still has a few left. So, he’s asked us to list the remaining cars as BF Auctions! The first one up is his all original 1929 Packard 120, which has been parked in his barn for the past few decades. Don’s father purchased this one back in 1963 and it’s been parked much of that time. If you’d love to get this Packard out of storage and back on the road, be sure to take a look at it and bid below!
The One-Twenty wasn’t quite as stately as Packards earlier cars, as it was an attempt to move into the mid-priced car market of the day. Don’t be fooled though, these were well-built cars that offered a smooth running engine and a suspension designed for comfort. And as you can see, the interior was spacious and as comfortable as just about any other car on the road.
Mechanically, the 282 cui inline eight is what set the One-Twenty apart from the more expensive 12-cylinder Packards. It might not have the power output, but this is one incredibly smooth engine. Power is sent through a Unimesh (also known as synchromesh) 4-speed transmission with an Econo-Drive overdrive. Don’t expect to win any races with this setup, but it will get you where you’re going smoothly and with ease. Don hasn’t attempted to start the engine at this point.
Having spent most of its life in this barn in Kansas, this Packard is primarily going to need detailing and service, but considering its 80 years old, chances are you will need to replace some of the soft bits. You can see the steering wheel is especially going to need attention. It isn’t uncommon for them to break apart like this, so there are companies restoring them and you can sometimes find replacements. Personally, I’d just put a leather wrap over it so I could start enjoying it and just be on the lookout for a nice used wheel to eventually replace it with.
If you want a stately pre-war classic, you can’t go wrong with a Packard! They are well built, smooth and loaded with features, including a fifth shock absorber! This ad for the 1939 Packard One Twenty here on OldCarAdvertising explains that feature a bit and covers some of the other basic things that came with it. So, if you’d love to revive this beautiful Packard survivor, be sure to bid and if you have any questions for Don please leave them in the comments!
- Location: Junction City, Kansas
- Title Status: Clean
- VIN: 129210491
Bid On This Auction
i.grabovsky bid $6,000.00 2019-12-02 13:43:19
dwc12971 bid $5,500.00 2019-11-28 16:43:34
19red87 bid $4,650.00 2019-11-28 16:43:04
Exhaustedcat bid $4,500.00 2019-11-27 05:04:34
Paul338725 bid $4,200.00 2019-11-27 04:11:35- Exhaustedcat bid $2,400.00 2019-11-26 16:39:33
Flying Lady bid $2,000.00 2019-11-26 11:51:37
JP46 bid $1,800.00 2019-11-26 10:13:57- Exhaustedcat bid $1,400.00 2019-11-26 10:10:57
- JP46 bid $1,200.00 2019-11-26 09:53:58
VINSTER48 bid $1,000.00 2019-11-26 09:24:44
Auction your car here on Barn Finds for only $99!
Is this an unreserved Auction ?
Don has set a very reasonable reserve on this one.
I’m flabbergasted a grand old lady like this car can’t even muster a thousand bucks, but some tin can VW bus gets 5 figures. Coo-coo, I tells ya’. Don’t let the “cheapened 120” fool you, not just anybody drove a Packard, this was on par with Caddy’s, Lincoln’s and such. Named the 120 for 120 horsepower. The ad sounds a bit misleading, I don’t think Packard ever offered a column 4 speed, it was the tried and true all synchro 3 speed and the O/D was the “Econo-Drive” 4th gear. This car will roll with the best, that motor was Packards staple for years, and yes, you really can balance a nickel on the cylinder head while idling. I hope someone saves this car. They shant be disappointed. Just “ask the PERSON that owns one”.
Car guys tend to like the cars they grew up with, especially the cars they had when they were younger or cars they wished they could have had. In the case of this Packard, the guys who always wanted one are long gone. Car shows reflect that today. How often do you see a stock pre-1950 car at shows today? Sure, you see heavily modified rods but factory stock? Not often. Cars from the ’60s dominate car shows today but their owners are aging making me wonder if 20 years from now will our cherished muscle cars be a rare sight on the show field?
I did have one of these growing up, My High school car was a 1937 120CD – – mid 60’s timeframe — great cruiser, easy highway miles, desirable huge back seat and reliable during my ownership.
The grille on the earlier models was a bit more stately and opened on a thermostat, also was floor shifter and mine had factory pin striping accenting the body lines.
Kept it stored until the early 90’s – never drove it again after leaving for college in 1967 – { Ran When Parked}
This is the kind of car you wish you had the $$ and garage space for! It looks incredible and I’m sure it is. Wishing the seller the best and that whoever buys it will put it where it belongs – on the road.
My Dad had one of these. One of the smoothest, nicest to drive old cars I have ever been in. Horrible visibility out the windows… but most of the cars of that era share that trait. Suicide doors too. Way cool. Wish I had space for this.
Soooo… Listing is missing some info & details that would be helpful for an online car auction. Such as: Location? (reading between the lines sounds like Kansas maybe?)
Pretty. Love myself ANY Packard. But as Howard A. stated: Interest in anything pre-WWII and original is fading. Yes, yes, there are still some of us out there, but we are a dying breed. Literally. And the cost to restore is insane anymore. GLWTS.
Sorry, I forgot to insert the infobox. It’s been added now. The car is located in Junction City, Kansas. If you have any questions, please let me know!
How long do these auctions last?
I have to disagree with the comment that “car guys like the cars they grew up with” Car guys like all cars. If you only like the cars you remember as a kid, You are a nostolgia guy. Jay Leno is a real car guy, so am I and I wish I could take on this Packard, even though I’ve never seen one outside of a car show
A stately car to get back on the road but doing so will be a labor of love. I find it hard to believe that the owner “hasn’t tried to start it”. Geez, that’s the first thing I’d want to do! Oh well, we all know that means it doesn’t run because there’s a big problem or problems-issues. Maybe if we could “Ask the man who owns (this) one” we can find out what those issues are? A lack of information will keep the price down on this otherwise interesting old Packard.
Feel free to ask away Bernie! Don is watching the auction and will do his best to get on and answer specific questions. If you’d rather not ask in the comments, you can email us at mail@barnfinds.com and I will email or call Don to get you the answer.
Recent sales would indicate this car could be worth 32 to 40 grand.
This auction is going no where fast.
There is a limited audience for these but this one is in great shape
You are aware that this is a 7-day auction, with 6 days still left to go, right? There’s a lot of time left for bidding.
I grew up riding around in one of these. It was my friend Dickies Mother’s daily driver. As we got older and had our license we would ride around in it pretending we were Elliot Ness and the Untouchables. That car now sits in a garage like this one does, but he won’t part with it :(
I would love to own this and have it be a regular driver. :)
Pre dates me by 10 years but I think it’s a beautiful car. I love the dash on these old vehicles and there isn’t any plastic or padding to crack or fade.
By the way, is that a nun pushing the baby carriage in the old car ad?
I’m thinking it may be a nanny/nurse pushing the carriage. I did get a snort thinking about a nun pushing a carriage…lol
The pre war Packard are all elegant cars. And if your hiring others to do your work it will take thousands of dollars. But if your a good DIY guy than that cost can be reduced considerably. Personally I’d do a sympathetic restoration it doesn’t need to be a concourse car, just a nice driver.
This car is listed as having “Econo-drive” (overdrive). from the photo of the front compartment it appears that it does not have it. Can you confirm one way or the other? I may want to bid, but only if it has this feature.
Is this auction still happening? All I see is make an offer? I have never seen this has an ending?
Yep, current bid 6K. BIN is 9K, someone will take this car home, I bet. “Make an offer” is bidding.
Unfortunately I can’t do 9K 😥
I hope that it goes to a good home