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Things are still unclear to me. By your explanation a series of car bodies built by Pininfarina would be considered custom bodies. Cadillac Allante, production 21,000.

I would even have difficulty calling them "limited production" as the limit was only how many they could sell.

Well Fred is at a good pace in this endurance race. Just with every project there is a lot of logistics in order to keep a project on track and moving. The frame is back from the blaster and is completely cleaned of its rust and paint. So now it was time to complete the full welding of the frame extensions. From that point the frame will be ready for some minor body work to clear up and small imperfections and be ready for paint. Soon we will have a completely restored rolling chassis. Even Fred got in on the welding of the frame.

<a href="http://s671.photobucket.com/user/JamesRFrom/media/Packard%20400/SSPX01551.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i671.photobucket.com/albums/vv72/JamesRFrom/Packard%20400/SSPX01551.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo SSPX01551.jpg"/></a>

jfrom@kanter Quote:

I like welding too, I'm just not very good at it. "A man's got to know his limitations." Clint Eastwood "Dirty Harry" character from Magnum Force, 1973.

So, I sub out the important welding to a good local professional who also makes house calls.

Craig

I'm not good at it either, the last time I did any welding (arc welding) was in the 60's. Whatever I did that was not up to par will be redone by a real welder. I will do all phases of restoration except upholstery, I do know my limits

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Companies like Ghia and Pinin Farina are much different from Derham or Henney.

The Italian houses are known for designing cars that are then mass produced by others. So far as I know Derham and Henney both specialized in one off custom orders.

Ghia designed cars that were built by others.Karman Ghia was commissioned by Volkswagen , designed by Ghia and built in volume by Karmann. They also were commissioned to design some Alfas and others and then build in volumes of 500 to 1500.

Ghia is best known in collectors circles as designers and builders of one-off concept cars for Chrysler and Ford and unique vehicles for the ultra wealthy. We own 4 Ford concept cars designed and built by Ghia and a one-off Dual Ghia concept car.

Henney, besides their funeral cars, built 46-47 and 53-54 Packard designed 7 pass vehicles designed by Packard. They differed little from the 4 door sedans and were basically just longer with jump seats. In my opinion they were not coachbuilt cars but were just manufactured in small numbers as a "contract manufacturer"

Derham made many spectacular coachbuilt cars in the 20's-40's, often one-off or in batches of 6 or so. By the 50's they were more "customizers", adding leather/vinyl roofs, small rear windows etc. I saw a 56 Chrysler with a vinyl top and smaller rear window and a Derham script. The '53 Formals I don't consider coachbuilt as Derham built none of the "coach." A vinyl/leather roof, a small rear window and a division were really minor modifications but really gorgeous