BF Exclusive: 1941 Packard One-Ten Club Coupe

• Seller: Jackson F ajnor (Contact)
• Location: Arroyo Grande, California
• Mileage: 00000 Shown
• Chassis #: 12939
• Title Status: Clean
• Engine: 245cui L-Head Inline-6
• Transmission: Manual

Volumes have been written about Packard’s 1950s downfall, and while few blame the corporation for moving the brand downmarket to weather the Great Depression, many fault its reticence to move back upmarket following World War II. Be that as it may, Packard’s middle-priced offerings, such as this 1941 One-Ten Club Coupe, still have the same family look and build quality for a fraction of the price of their big Packard Eight and Twelve linemates. This example is being offered as a Barn Finds Exclusive in Arroyo Grande, California, and with an asking price of $9,900, it may be one of the best bargains going in Packards.

One of the nice things about Packards is that it’s easy to learn about your car, as people have been collecting them for almost a century. This car was sold in California in January of 1941, certainly a tumultuous time in American history. It’s fascinating to think about what it’s been through, as it was almost certainly the last car someone bought before America’s entry into World War II.

The One-Ten models were powered by a 245-cubic-inch, 100-horsepower L-Head six. The seller says that the car “has been sitting for many years,” but given California’s forgiving climate for collector cars, it’s possible that a points file and a gallon of carburetor dip will be all you’ll need to get the big six purring again. Of course, anything’s possible in the world of collector cars.

One of my favorite lines from Packard’s sales catalog tells you how far cars have come in 85 years: For chassis lubrication, “there are only 15 points on the whole chassis at 1000 mile [intervals], four at 10,000 mile intervals.” If my math is correct, and I like to think that it is, that means you’ll be busy giving a shot of grease to 19 fittings at oil changes.

The One-Ten was offered in several body styles; this example is a Club Coupe, which had a back seat (unlike the Business Coupe) and a slightly racier roofline than the two-door “Family Sedan.” The interior is not upholstered in its original fabric, but it should clean up enough to be presentable as a nice driver. If not, the bench seats shouldn’t be too challenging for a good upholstery shop.

One thing that the new owner might want to consider is a color change. Chances are good that this car was refurbished in the 1950s or 1960s, and the salmon-and-white two-tone paint dates it. In some of the pictures, the firewall appears to be a pretty dark green (Grove Green, perhaps?), and that would be a beautiful color to paint this stately old Packard. Of course, the choice is up to you, but if you’ve always fancied a Packard, but you don’t have the kind of money for one of the Pebble Beach show winners, make an offer here on Barn Finds.