Any automotive historian knows that Packard’s star waned in the postwar years, even though that wasn’t immediately apparent. The Twenty-Second Series Packard was introduced in 1947, and although Packard was historically loath to assign model year designations, Packards from this series were registered and marketed as 1948s (and 1949s, as we’ll see in a minute). The styling of this series has taken a beating over the years, as some have labeled them “inverted bathtubs” and “pregnant elephants.” But that’s not really fair, and as Robert Turnquist’s The Packard Story mentions, it “won top honors in seven automobile design contests.” Still, any period of automotive styling has its detractors and its adherents, and postwar Packards are no exception. In fact, if you’re looking for a clean late-’40s Packard, Barn Finds reader T.J. has found this example on craigslist in Sun Valley, California, with an asking price of $17,900.
I mentioned that Packard was unique in its series designations, and this car proves that. The vehicle number starts with 2292-9 on the body plate shown above, but the original data plate would have read “2292.” This means that this car was originally meant to be sold as a “1948” model; however, in November of 1948, the Packard factory made dealers remove the data plates from unsold cars and replace them with plates that added the “-9” suffix, effectively transforming them into 1949 models when registered. Easy as that. Of course, having unsold cars on the lot that late in the year is never a harbinger of good times ahead, as Packard would soon find out.
The “2292-9” code then tells us (although the ad doesn’t) that the car being sold is a 1949 Standard Sedan, and therefore, it has the smallest of the big, smooth Packard straight eights under the hood, at 288 cubic inches and 130 horsepower, all channeled through a three-speed manual transmission (Ultramatic was still about a year away). The seller doesn’t mention how well it runs and drives, but considering the price and the seller’s claim that “you can drive this time capsule with a smile,” I think it’s fair to assume there are no immediate issues.
The interior looks outstanding. I’ve been seeing a lot of cars for sale lately with these plastic seat covers; no offense to those in the “plastic seat cover appreciation society,” but those would be gone the minute the delivery truck pulled up to my house. I would, however, give them a solemn moment of silence for their duty in keeping the original (according to the seller) interior in ship-shape.
The late 1940s was a time of transitional styling, with separate fenders tentatively joining with their fellow body parts for the first time in automotive history, which sometimes led to a “bar of soap” look that not everybody appreciates. But if you’re a student of postwar history and have been looking for a quality vehicle with a gold-chip nameplate, this solid “mostly original” Packard might suit you well.
That asking price is almost a give away.
“drive and smile” price appropriate as there’s little to do but drive and have fun.
Nice Packard! These are amazing examples of quality engineering (WW2 torpedo boats were Packard-powered) and postwar automotive aesthetics rooted in the “streamlined” look of the previous decade. I find them uniquely attractive (like Studebakers of the same era). While these “bulbous” designs quickly gave way to more conservative shapes (which were then dressed up in chrome and tail fins) they at least give a nod to aerodynamics-something not seen again in Detroit until the late 80’s-early 90’s. This looks like a great example. GLWA
Aaron, I get what you’re saying about the plastic seat covers, but if I bought this car, I’d keep the seat covers on until I was confident that my youngest grandchild was unlikely to drop her ice cream cone on the seat.
Beautiful car….. In ’55 dad ordered a new Cadillac and when he brought it home it had these same seat covers (which got hot and sticky) over beautiful 2 tone fabrics. probably because I was 5. Mom asked him why he was keeping the seats nice for the next guy who buys it as a used car…. A few years later the seat covers began to be made with quilting…. bumps… which put little dents in your skin…. and very few people bought them.
I remember sales materials for the clear plastic seat covers showing up in the mail shortly after my parents bought new cars. This was in the 50’s and 60’s.
GREAT car, but with one reservation. The odd appearance of the dash and chrome rings that appear to be painted. I have not ever seen this as on the four in my small group of appreciative owners, none have this. Mine is a real ’49 – 22nd series, not a holdover ’48. It has chrome where this is painted. The car is near perfect otherwise and even the engine is repainted in it’s original shade which is very often not correct. At this price, it is a genuine bargain (mine is a 42,000 mile duplicate model, with no radio, in a metallic blue which Packard called Cordoba Blue)
I wonder if it was because it may be a ’48 that was reserialed as a ’49
Packard made absolutely beautiful cars and this is certainly one of them.
I remember sales materials for the clear plastic seat covers showing up in the mail shortly after my parents bought new cars. This was in the 50’s and 60’s.
They were probably sent from the Fingerhut Company. I also remember their ads and samples arriving in the mail even after mom and dad had bought used cars.
As sad as it is to say: Even this price might be optimistic. Pretty car, and I love myself some post-war Packards. But they command less of a following than the age’ed Model A crowd anymore. GLWTS.
Big old late 1940’s straight-eight Packard. Hubba hubba!!
Not that anything is fishy here, vin tags/ body plates held in by screws are a red flag…..they can be switched in a heartbeat……rivets are harder to replace and be legit….just sayin.
see my comment above I replied to the wrong post
It’s exactly what this is…..without the documentation-history, one would never know….
What a beauty. The price is a bargain. The under-car picture in the CL ad shows a very clean maintained car. As I looked at the underside shot, I’m reminded of the large amount of zert fittings that require lube. Back in the old days when an oil and lube service were standard. Riding in this Packard would surely make you feel like you were head and shoulders above other pedestrian cars driven by mere mortals. What a throne this Packard is. Love it.
That it is, both a beauty and a bargain. I was just imagining myself behind the wheel touring the back roads of the US sitting high and proud in my throne on wheels.. possibly with a grease gun in the trunk. ;-)
I’ve got a 50 Standard (23rd series) with Ultramatic in at least as good shape as this one, except no plastic seat covers. New paint and interior, rebuilt everything. Even got curb feelers and all 3 of the available hood ornaments! The old guys that remember these are dying off at a great rate, and younger people think…although the Museum of Modern Art disagreed…they are ugly. I’d say $18K is wildly optimistic.
I would love to have this one: what a fine example of a car we used to see on a daily basis. Can’t beat the quality of a Packard back in the day. This styling never bothered me, although shortening the centre gave it the look of a parakeet’s face