There are rare and desirable vehicles, rare and not so desirable vehicles, and we have all seen rare and valuable vehicles. This very rare 1940 Diamond T Pak-Age-Car probably falls somewhere in-between for most people. It can be found here on eBay in Auburn, California. The current bid price is just $1,500 but the reserve isn’t met yet. Let’s check it out.
A little over a month ago, we saw a 1960 Taylor-Dunn Trident here on Barn Finds and that one took some heat for having a face that only a mother could love. This Pak-Age-Car looks like it could be related somehow, at least in the way that it’s “eyes” (headlights) bug out like the peepers on Don Knotts. It’s hard to tell the scale of this very rare vehicle but, thankfully, the seller has included a scale photo – they’re much smaller than most people might think.
The Pac-Kar prototype of 1925 evolved into the Pak-Age-Car made by the Pak-Age-Car Corporation of Chicago, IL. The company made small delivery vans from the mid-1920s until 1941 under several different ownership groups. They are really unique vehicles and not just the aforementioned headlights. The Pak-Age-Car has a quick-change drivetrain mounted in the rear that was reportedly designed to be removed and replaced quickly and easily. Also, the driver stood up while driving and used hand controls for the brakes, throttle, and clutch. I know, fantastic!
Here’s where the action happened and driving a Pak-Age-Car in modern traffic would be filled with action, there’s no question about it. The machine that can measure my desire to own a perfect example of this vehicle has yet to be invented. The controls may seem unusual today but how fun would it be to get this one on the road again and use it to haul a motorcycle or two to vintage motorcycle shows? At the end of 1932, Stutz Motor Company took over the Pak-Age-Car Corporation and operated it until itself went bankrupt less than five years later. Auburn ended up with the company who then sold it to Diamond T in the spring of 1939. Sadly, production ended in the spring of 1941.
With a rear engine and thus a raised floor, the Pak-Age-Car has a less than ideal rear storage compartment compared to more traditional, front-drivetrain-equipped delivery vans. A lot of them were used for hauling ice in the pre-refrigerator era which is how a lot of them met their demise, literally rusting out from within by the melting ice. There is no access to the storage compartment from the rear on this one but I have seen some Stutz-era Pak-Age-Cars with rear-opening doors.
What should have originally been a 30-hp, 221 cubic-inch four-cylinder Lycoming engine is long gone, replaced by a Willys engine years ago. That’s unfortunate for authenticity but good for parts availability should the next owner wish to just restore it to working condition and not to Pebble-Beach-like original-spec condition. Unfortunately, this engine doesn’t turn over and the carb is missing. Being such a rare vehicle, this Diamond T Pak-Age-Car is worthy of a full restoration and I hope that someone will bring it back to its original glory for the sake of history. Have any of you seen a Pak-Age-Car?
Even as rare as it is, it’s probably as likely to be rebuilt on a modern chassis and used as a food truck as anything else.
A death trap, but a cool looking one.
WOW! Never heard of these. Diamond T, sure, but this? Maybe saw a picture. Should definitely be loved by somebody, just for the history alone. The price is ok, but expect to put a lot more money (and work) in before it’s finished. Loved that they threw in the vintage pic of the crashed one!
I’ve heard of the Pak-Age car but this is the first time I actually saw one. I would definitely agree that this one should be restored and even used. I’m sure it would be a blast. I’m not fussy about that Willys F-Head engine in there but then, I’m not fussy about people dropping SBCs into Fords either. I guess if this is all that’s available to make it run, then it’s okay. Of course, I’d be wanting to source the original type that was in it. I hope the new owner has a lot of fun with it…
this is so much more interesting that any 356 or 1968 Charger. If I was rich and could afford to restore this, I would be all over it. It is the best Barn Finds find in ages
Interesting? Yes it is, very interesting and cute. But if one had to choose to own and drive a 356B Porsche, a 1968 Charger or Pack-age-car, say 15000 miles in the next year, this baby would be 3rd choice. Depending on the roads you drove those 150000 miles on, the Dodge might come out first choice sometimes, but the Porsche would be the car many of us would want to hug at the end of the year.
and that’s the reason a Porsche in similar condition will go for 20 times the price.
And with it being a willys/continental 4 cylinder, parts are plentiful as the motors were used in Lincoln Welders as well!
Quite a find, and great write-up. I knew about these, but thought Diamond T originated it. Just the opposite, apparently, they killed it. I read, these were probably Auburns sold as Diamond T’s. Marmon-Herrington made the “Deliveral”, as well. These were in direct competition with the stand up Divco. Not sure what that loop thing is by the steering wheel, but the gas pedal appears to be missing. Milkmen used these, but I think this one with the windows was kind of a pre-FedEx. Rare indeed, not sure what you would do with it. Be tough to upgrade and a handful as is. Just try and find a hubcap for this.
With the colors, Howard, I was thinking Railway Express. Predates a lot of current readers.
http://trainweb.org/carl/NationalTrainDayLA2013/IMG_7677_REATruck.jpg
My thoughts exactly.
When I was a wee ad, my best friend’s father drove for Railway Express.
Nope, not REA. It’s wearing the Cunocar livery. Who hasn’t heard of Cunocar? GEEZ!
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rogneda/6136944203
UPS still refers to its delivery vans as package cars. Wonder if this is where UPS’s designation originated.
Too small for a food truck and with that raised floor you’re not going to get any motorcycles in it. I’m scratchin my head tryin to figure out what it could be used for besides a billboard for a business.
Convert to electric & use for local business.
Note that the Stewart-Warner instrument cluster is the same as used on 1946-1948 Crosley CCs.
Put a 6BT Cummins in it, restomod, and slam it! Y’all were waiting for that, huh?
It’s a former Cunocar truck.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/808403/the_fresno_bee_the_republican/
Exactly. The logos can still be seen on the side of the truck. And the colors are correct.
You’re right!! How did you find that?
If nothing else, the turn signals are awesome!!
I wonder if a vw engine and transaxle would fit?
Battery EV probably best plan though as long rides likely not practical.
RE the bookkeeper office: how does that guy sit in there like that? Or is that a picture and not a window?
Interior view.
http://xoverit.blogspot.com/2017/03/typewriters-in-tpl-archives.html
Definitely a unique vehicle, never have seen one but have seen several Diamond T trucks in the past. Nice factory type Artillery wheels on this little rig. I noticed first off the turn signal lights mounted above the front fenders each side, turns out I have one of these exact units I bought many years ago from a local swap meet and I never knew what it may have been used on, well maybe now the mystery is solved. If I was in the market for one of these this would have worked good for me as I am just 25 miles from Auburn.
It’s been delisted !
https://barnfinds.com/very-rare-1940-diamond-t-pak-age-car/
Excuse me :
Relisted
Darned Speyl -Chenk !
Having seen the inside & outside of the Cunocar accounting trucks, this is screaming to be restored to reflect it’s original intended use, equipped with the huge adding machines and typewriters!
Before seeing this, had someone told me it was a mobile accounting service truck, and there were in fact multiple versions of these travelling from town to town, making fast work of those dreaded accounting problems, I would have thought he was a bit daft!
The only person I know of who could restore this truck to it’s former glory is Jay Leno. Hey Jay — are ya listening?