When I look at some of the old and tired cars that come across the desk at Barn Finds, it allows me to look at myself in the mirror and think that maybe the march of time hasn’t been that hard on me after all. The difference is that many of these old classics can be restored and returned to the looks of their youth. Sadly I don’t have that option. One of those classics is this beautiful 1940 Packard Super Eight. Located in Snohomish, Washington and for sale here on eBay, this graceful old lady comes with a clear title. With just on a week remaining bidding has taken the price to $2,025 but the reserve hasn’t been met.
Packards just ooze elegance. There’s really no other way to put it. That long hood and cavernous interior were really fit for royalty. This one is a long way from reaching those heights, but there is no reason why it can’t return. This particular Packard is the 160 model. The seller states that he has driven it on and off over the past 25 years. He states that there is some rot around the rear fenders. Quite unbelievably the car was flooded up to its running boards some 10 years ago, but does not appear to have suffered any major corrosion traumas as a result. Unfortunately, there are no photos of the underside to verify this. Thankfully all of the external trim is present, although some will require restoration.
Under that enormous hood sits the 356ci straight eight engine that in its heyday produced 160hp. The engine hasn’t been started in approximately a year, but the owner seems confident that it’s fine. There are a few mechanical issues to deal with, but none of them sound like real deal-breakers to me. The transmission has a noisy bearing. It was rebuilt in around 2000, and the owner thinks that the noise may be as a result of the previously mentioned flooding. A big plus is that the seller has a pile of spares that can go with the car if the buyer wants them (and who wouldn’t?). They include a spare engine, an overdrive transmission, a better set of rear fenders and a large pile of sundry other items.
There are a couple of interior shots but they don’t tell us the full story. The dash appears to be missing a couple of items, but it definitely has potential to be restored. I love the wheel. Those curved spokes are amazing and would make any drive feel like a special occasion.
Who doesn’t love suicide doors? They look fantastic and are an elegant means of entering that massive rear passenger area. There’s no doubt that the upholstery needs a fair amount of work, but the basis for a restoration looks quite sound. Imagine the sheer satisfaction of returning this to its former glory.
I know that this looks like a huge job to restore, but if the frame is sound then the basis is there to own something wonderful. With the parts that will be included in this package, this is a car that a person competent with a spray gun could bring back to life in their own workshop. Potentially the most expensive part of a restoration would be bringing that interior trim back to its former glory. Most of the rest of it is good old elbow grease. Well restored examples of these seem to be selling for between $30,000-$40,000 so if the price doesn’t go too high it could be possible to restore it and come out on top. Or you could restore it and just enjoy the experience of traveling in unabashed style.
Well the price is a far cry from the earlier Packard with the v12. Personally I’d rather have this one, more spare parts and a simpler more reliable engine. This is a way better deal then the v12 and is something that I could afford to buy if I had somewhere to put it. That and I have enough projects.
We shall see the final price of course.
We just drove back through Washington on vacation , had I known about this beauty it would be hitched to my r.v. That grill reminds me of a Rolls. Clean it up , buff it out and cruise night here I come
Beautiful car. I hope it finds the home it deserves.
I remember admiring one in similar forlorn condition when I was a kid in the 60’s. Flash forward to the early 2000’s and I owned a 37 and a 38. They were solid, well built cars- and they were only the inexpensive “Packard Six” series.
There is great potential for this car, and the price zone is reasonable. I would love to be on the highway with this car and the overdrive transmission. I believe that it would make a wonderful family cruiser and sometime later, a restoration project.
I would love this car, but i have too many projects to even consider purchasing it.
Bob
Looks like good buying for someone; sadly, not me, for the same reason as Canadian Mark…
That driving light is THE BOMB!
Unfortunately the condition of the car means darn little will be saved. Given the background photos and general condition of where it sits, I wouldn’t place any bets on the usability of much.
Why would the seller point to previous flooding for maybe being the reason that the transmission bearing is noisy? What is the difference between constant rain for weeks or a flood for a few days? If there were no oil leaking out then there is going to be no water going in surely? On another tack, a friend of mine travelled overland with his parents from UK to Zimbabwe back in 1948 in a 1938 Packard, and on arrival in Zim he sold it to a bunch of uni students who promptly turned around and drove it straight back! The only problem encountered on both trips was a broken rear spring on the out trip, and run out of gas on the return! They certainly new how to build them back in the day.
So what will happen to this car? Couldn’t ask for a better starter project.( love the “speed light”) I’m fairly confident, this will be resto-modded like all the others, and that’s ok. Better than it sitting like this with limited interest.
As long as it is a tasteful resto-mod. If it is done at the highest level, with full modern safety, it would be a worthwhile project.
This fine car still has the ability to make you look at it. Packards just seem to have everything balanced and do it with elegance. This car deserves somebody who just falls in love with it and does it right. Hard to believe they would go toes up in 20 years.
Aha ! The inspiration for the instrument cluster on my Volvo PV444 has been revealed ! Compare the dash photo above to the image linked below-
http://www.classicautonetwork.com/CLASSIC/MakeThumbNail.aspx?h=452&w=339&id=1050&file=4pwfc8_imgcrop.jpg
And it has a yellow ribbon to tie around that old oak tree …