Apart from the column lever on the early R-R Shadow (on my 66 Silver Shadow anyway), should the shift motor fail, there is a small fitting on the inner LH cabin transmission tunnel to enable a lever from the toolkit to be inserted to manually shift the transmission. There is also a manual reset button on the back of the fuse box to reset triggered relays. I have not had to use either of these items yet (fingers crossed).

It depends how much you want to be perceived as "Driving Miss Daisy". Driving poured bearing Packards over 55 is an accelerated bearing death without some form of OD or diff ratio change. I have a 1907 Triumph motorbike which is road registered and an absolute death trap to ride. It is fixed belt drive and has no clutch, no gearbox, negligible brakes and goes to 55 mph. A real adventure on the road. I have survived a few near fatal's on this beast. I also have a 533 with a 4.38 ( was 4.69 but fitted a 4.38). I don't take these vehicles on single lane roads anymore where you have a BMW X5 up your ass (Maybe 3 metres?). They don't care.

Definitely a 38/39 120 by the bonnet trim ,radiator and sidemounts. A very desirable vehicle but not a Super Eight.

I would look at the Starter Motor Serial number. Some of the interchangeable starter motors have much higher torque than others. I am sure there is a thread on this within info.com. I put a later higher torque starter in my 38 Six and it made a lot of difference. I am also aware that as starters get worn, bushes and brushes get wear which can affect the performance substantially. Are you able to borrow a starter from a friend with a good cranking motor and see if it makes a difference? Peter Toet

Is it possible that the person responsible for the wiring problem used Lucas wiring? Packard wiring was not infamous for its shorting and "smoking" ability.

The Seniors have a big heavy gearbox and I always find it easier to almost put it into Second to allow the synchro ring to slow the gearsets, then put the gear lever into First or Reverse. Peter Toet

I suggest definitely not an OEM item.

It was probably a restorable car 40 years ago when it was driven into the field. Definitely a 38 Eight by the tail lights.
can't figure the duct tape on the dash?

I had an 8 volt battery in my 38 Richards Six for a few years and it was great on starting but caused other issues. One is that the voltage regulator for 1938 (probably the same for 1939) was non temperature compensating and really poured the amps into the battery until the regulator warmed up. The high amps was very hard on the wiring loom/Ammeter as well and the generator was probably lucky to survive without throwing commutator solder. I went back to 6 volt and still have a brand new ( dry charged) 8 V battery if anyone in OZ wants one. Probably OK for a VW. I would not do it again on a Packard. Peter Toet.

I agree that there must be something wrong with the charging system which could be easily checked with a Volt meter. I am running a single 6V Pos earth Optima in my 38 Twelve and it appears to be entirely adequate. A bonus was that there was sufficient room in the battery holder to put a 12 Volt Gel battery, which I run as Negative earth to the Cigar lighter for GPS, Dash cam and other 12 Volt accessories. I use a 6v and 12 V battery minder for each system and plug in under the running board. Peter Toet