In non-restored fashion, I’ve always considered cars like this 1949 Packard to be scary-looking. I guess it’s the combination of the shape, and the condition, that gives me the heebie-jeebies. You know, it has the kind of bearing that when you find it in a barn or a garage, you really don’t want to know what’s inside. Well, someone went ahead and opened it up so it looks like the coast is clear as far as unwantables go. It’s not said in the listing but I’ll suggest that this Packard is an Eight Touring Sedan. Slumbering in Boyd, Texas this haunted-looking sedan is available, here on Facebook Marketplace for $5,900. A tip of the hat to T.J. for this find!
Packard offered four different models in ’49, the Super DeLuxe, Super, Eight Deluxe, and the Eight. Body styles included two and four-door sedans (a convertible and station wagon were also offered with the Super series) and Packard managed a thirteenth-place finish in the 1949 domestic production race with a total output of 117K units. The standard Packard Eight accounted for 13K of that 117K total.
This Packard’s robin egg blue and surface rust finish speaks for itself. The streamlined body appears to be solid with no indication of deterioration due to rust-through. The stainless trim, or lack thereof, is what tells me that this is a standard Eight model. It all seems to be complete and will probably serve as a sound restoration basis.
The interior shows stained woven upholstery but it seems no worse than that. It’s not said how long this Packard has been slumbering, but the recorded 47K miles of use may explain why the environment is no worse. The headliner and backseat are surprisingly nice but the cloth door panels show indications of water intrusion or moisture of some sort.
Packard power in ’49 meant a 135 gross HP, 288 CI, in-line eight-cylinder flathead engine connected to a three-speed manual transmission (the listing states an automatic gearbox but that was not an option in ’49). The engine compartment shows as being complete but undisturbed for many moons. Nope, it’s not a runner.
The listing suggests, “Are you into restoring vintage American classic cars? Well today is your lucky day because this is a rare barn find!“. As restoration candidates go, this does appear to be a solid starting point. Packards were special cars and they seem to have a leg up on lesser commodity cars when the resto equation is considered. Still, I have to ask, if you were interested in this Packard Eight Tourer would you pursue an original stock restoration or maybe something a bit more like…?
While it is never my intent to upstage Jim or BFs in any way, listen to this. As many here know about our 1950 Packard, about a month ago, my nephew tells me, “Uncle Howie, I think this is our Packard” Sure enough, located in Oshkosh, and not sure this is cool, and apologies for long URL,,
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/881077210070986/?ref=search&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=post&tracking=browse_serp%3A0f92c2ff-6330-4ffd-985e-2dc46321c714
Did that work? I was flabbergasted to see it again, and someone, the person we sold it to, not the seller, I don’t think, did a LOT of work, including finding another Cormorant, the interior, it never looked this sharp when we had it.
This car is a manual, no auto quadrant on steering column, but I think the automatic did come out in late ’49, Bill would know. Packard had a gazillion different trim options, this seems to be on the lower end, typically what most Packards were, but every bit as nice as the more expensive models. This is a bit more work than ours was, and quite frankly, I was surprised someone restored ours like they did. It’s a lot of work. Thanks, Jim.
Howard:
If that’s your car, that’s a fantastic find and no worries of an upstage – “finds” are what this site is all about.
As for the automatic transmission, I used Packard’s sales material which didn’t reference an automatic as an option. Of course, if it were a late ’49 MY introduction, that would explain its absence in the sales publications.
Thx,
JO
If your very nice car is for sale at $8,500 and the barn car is $2,600 less it’s the biggest nobrainer of the year. But I’m amazed they’re only asking 8 1/2 for yours. That’s so low as to be suspicious.
Hi Mike, well, “low” is relative. Las Vegas low, or upper midwest low. I think this would be a fair price for the car, considering I know 1st hand it’s all of $8500 worth of vehicle. They chromed things you didn’t even see. Frames like girders. I have no affiliation with the seller or car, maybe an offer, I think there may be some issues yet, but the automatic is the cheese of the future, if any.
I’ve said many times, interest for a “Packard” is waning with every funeral, and if one looks at FB postings for classic vehicles, practically everyone has the original price, then the “slash”, and the new lower price. Fantastic cars, most commenting here already know that, but sadly, I just don’t see much of an attraction in the future for any of these types of cars.
Mike & Howard,
This car is in need of major restoration. It’s good point is the body appears to be rust-free, the bad points are it needs a lot of work, it has only one option – a heater, and it’s the base model Standard Eight [VIN beginning with 2292].
The other car Howard mentions is a 23rd series Standard Eight sedan [2392] not a Super 8 sedan as advertised. That car is well optioned but has 1951-2 hubcaps and a reupholstered interior with modern velour fabric. But even with the incorrect interior, it’s a very good price.
Probably the easiest way to tell a Standard 8 sedan from the Deluxe 8, Super 8 and the Senior cars, is the lack of a center fold-down armrest for the back seat.
1949 was Packard’s Golden Anniversary. My Uncles were dealers in Eĺ Monte, CA. My parents bought a gold colored one. About a month later my mother was driving a silver one and I asked her what happened to the car. She said the gold one was too ostentatious so she took it back and got the silver one instead.
Suzanne, my Uncle Clem also had a Golden Anniversary Packard in gold paint. I was about 7 at the time. My unc. was a diehard Packard man at a time when many people were brand-loyal.
One of my best friends in high school had several old Packards. His dad bought them for him to keep him busy so he would stay out of trouble. He had one just like this one in faded red. Lordy, we cruised that thing all over town whenever we could get it running. Drew a lot of attention.
I love the styling of this car! Almost looks the same coming as going, at least from the side view. To that end, the rear doors should have been suicide doors.