EXCLUSIVE: 1937 Packard Roadster Project

It may not look like much right now, but this was once a very beautiful machine. In the thirties Packard was well known for their big straight-eight powered luxury cars, but they wanted to add a more affordable option to the lineup. The result was the 115-C. It was smaller and had two less cylinders, but was still an impressive automobile – especially in roadster form! This one still needs a lot of work, but the end result should be well worth it.

It had been about a decade since Packard had fitted an inline-six into one of their cars. Some people thought that meant the company’s luxury status was slipping, but it was actually a genius move by Packard. It provided consumers to enter the family at a lower price point at a critical time. A recession hit a year after this car was released and it could be one of the main reasons Packard was able to stay afloat. The seller of this particular car believes that the engine could run with some new fuel and a battery.

The exterior is going to take a little more work though. It has been stripped for paint, but does look solid. Some guys don’t realize how much paint costs when they buy projects like this, so unless you plan on doing it yourself or taking it to Maaco, budget about ten grand for a quality paint job. Luckily, the car does come with about $5k worth of new chrome. Hopefully someone with the resources and knowhow picks this up and brings it back to its former glory.

This Packard is located in Granada Hills, California and Red, the seller, would like to get $22,500 for everything. You can use the form below to contact him if you’re interested. Thanks for listing this with us Red! If any of you have an unfinished project that you would like to unload, please consider listing it here on Barn Finds!

Contact The Seller

Comments

  1. Avatar Dave Wright

    Packard didn’t build a V8 until the 50’s. They built remarkable straight 8’s before that…….and off course V12’s.

    Like 1
  2. Avatar Dairymen

    No V8 till 1955. And the 115 was not available as a toaster. It’s a convertible coupe.

    Like 0
    • Avatar Dairymen

      Stupid auto spelling: roadster not toaster!

      Like 0
      • Avatar Phil Harris

        We knew what you meant Dairymen, your forgiven, still a nice vehicle. I could not figure out the V8 in the thirty’s but that was also corrected.

        Like 0
    • Avatar KeithK

      I have an International Harvester refrigerator I was gonna run out this weekend to look for a packard toaster to go with it. Damn. No toaster. Thanks for clearing that up.

      Like 0
      • Avatar Dairymen

        Packard had a lot of subsidiaries so nothing is impossible. Actually Packard motor cars were a subsidiary of the Packard electric co.

        Like 0
      • Avatar FRANK GRASHA

        72 years of following cars and first i ever heard that Packard Automobiles was a sub of Packard Electric !

        Like 0
  3. Avatar Jesse Staff

    Sorry, I meant straight-eight. Thanks for catching my typo!

    Like 0
  4. Avatar Capt Doug

    What it will look like after a lot of work done and money spent and time, a lot of time – even if all the parts are there already!

    https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/packard/115c/1947740.html

    An owner who takes on this project will be very proud – someday – and if they do as much of the work themselves — even more so — an elegant car and worth the effort.
    Seems like a high starting cost though.

    Like 0
  5. Avatar Bill McCoskey Member

    Packard Electric was a separate entity and remained in Warren, Ohio, when the Packard Motor Car Company moved to Detroit about 1905. There were 2 brothers William Doud Packard, & James Ward Packard. William stayed at the helm of Packard Electric, and James went to Detroit. [He actually maintained his home in Warren and summer home in upstate New York.]

    Like 0
  6. Avatar Jay M

    Very worthy project.

    Like 0
  7. Avatar El Chinero

    … and sporting an alternator?

    Like 0

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