C2C Fabrication has a decent selection of replacement panels for 48-50. Haven't looked for 46-47, but can't envision a huge difference for your purposes. Their pricing seems pretty fair. I'm planning on making my own with a bead roller, as I want mine to be as close to original as possible. Good luck... lot of cutting coming your way..
Mike

I think you are being a bit hard on yourself. You are clearly smitten by the design and like the lines like many of us do. My suggestion to you would be to educate yourself in advance of this purchase. You appear to have gone into this not knowing much about these cars. That car had a decent amount of money put into it amounting to a lot of sunk cost and sadly it needs a complete redo. You need to get yourself to the level where your coworkers who know nothing about Packards think you're an expert on these models. Armed with that knowledge and supplementary help here you'll make a much better choice. I would wait for one in your backyard; these aren't terribly rare in sedan form and the south yields some nice solid examples. Find one within a day's drive, cash-in-hand and trailer/drive it home yourself. Your appetite seems to align with either a well preserved original or maintained, older restoration.

Hope you think long and hard before doing that. You have a rare bird there. Many years ago I came across a Custom convertible with that modification. To me it looked like someone cleaned out the chrome isle at Pep Boys. Just my opinion... it's your ride. If you do remove the lower trim, try to save it for someone that may want to revert back; it may help when/if you go to sell.
Mike

Thanks for posting that link and added commentary on the sills Howard. I vaguely remembered coming across that awhile back and remembered concerns over quality at the time. In another life and fresh out of engineering school I created tooling for new products at the plant I worked at and silicone was one of the mediums we used (I know enough to be dangerous and if low quality + high price is the only option... I may take a crack). It will be a while before I get to that point as I am building my restoration shop right now.

Mike

Hello Mateo,
I've been through their catalog and they have a number of components for the top assembly. I'm not seeing anything significant they don't offer. Perhaps give them a call and if I'm missing something... let me know. Only item I'm concerned over are the rocker step plates. May end up casting my own from original ones if unavailable.
Mike

Perhaps the Prestone failed to do it's duty for the subsequent owner.

I saw the episode too. It wasn't a coupe, it was a convertible... maroon if memory serves...

I can't speak to the volume of mirrors you expect to sell. Just a general observation- "BEFORE I send the check...I have sealed a deal." Unless you plan on never setting foot inside that bar again; I think you know what you need to do.
You aren't buying the whole business, so audited financial statements may be overkill, but I would have at minimum asked for some proof of cashflow over the last three years to assess the projection going forward. At that point take into consideration holding costs and decline in value due to aged inventory. I do applaud you for keeping something alive, I would be lying if I said I didn't open my wallet with my heart on occasion.

I've long admired the boats Gar Wood built for public consumption. A double cockpit runabout from the late 30's to early 40's is on my bucket list. If the Chrysler inboard is missing I thought it would be neat to find a Packard marine S8. I don't think a triple will ever be in the cards for me but they were incredible boats.

Well, if anyone ever does reproduce this I would buy. If not, I'll find the closest match material and have made myself. I must say it does have a rubber appearance. Perhaps this is yet another job for Phil Swift and Flex Seal..