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A friend of mine in Billings has finally come to his senses and wants to buy a Packard. He found this one on Ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Packard-250-RARE-250-CONVERTIBLE-ONLY-2-572-PRODUCED-327-STRAIGHT-8-EXCELLENT-CONDITION-/281405735558?forcerrptr=true&hash=item418516c286&item=281405735558&pt=US_Cars_Trucks

and is interested in it. His questions to me were: is the price reasonable?
What do you see wrong with it?

I thought the price was a bit too high, but that's normal. I don't know what a decent price is.
Here's what I saw"
!. wrong color green on engine - should be gray or maybe green if it's a very early car? Model number is 2469-2582, so it is probably half way thru production.
2. wrong spark plug wires
3. turn signal stalk is weird - doesn't look correct
4. Shift lever is from an older car; doesn't have the 90 degree turn.
5. Trunk floor needs cleaning and painting. Spare is missing.
6. Trunk emblem is deteriorated.
7. Minor pitting on the front grille
8. I think I see a scratch or two on the dashboard, above the glove box.
9. Is the Ultramatic tag on the rear fenders correct?
10. Biggest item - interior is incorrect.
Having said all that, I would trade my oldest child for it, straight up!
Comments guys?

engine color is wrong. Should be gray.Shift is correct. It was a one year only item slightly similar to the 23rd series Ultramatic shift. The interior is incorrect. It should be leather and brocade. Ultramatic did appear on the rear fenders. All and all though, its a pretty nice example and it does not have the troublesome power window/seats option.

thanks! What do you think of the price?

the interior is horrid, but the original was not "brocade." Think late 60's - early 70's swirly patterns - that's brocade.

GTO has it right.
Engine color Wrong, upholstery wrong material, ultramatic logo correct.

If You can get the Packards Inter. Fall 2013 issue it has a nice 1951 and interesting owner . . .

Packard 385

Also wrong- headlight rings (1953?), speakers in front kick panels and the top has a tear at the base on the passenger side.

It looks like a pretty nice car. The matter of price really depends on the age of your friend. I have a 1964 Buick Riviera that I bought in 1978 and I can't remember if I paid $1900 or $2100 at the time. I do remember a couple of friends rolling on the floor laughing at me paying twice the going rate.
Using an equivalent dollar calculator it was about $9,000 in today's money before taxes. I guess I'd have to gross about $13,000 to buy one today. 30 grand for a nice Packard convert, I'd do it.
By the way, the Riviera had a non-authentic vinyl top and after 35 years I decided to remove it. Time and money, US dollars and half a century,can't rush into things. Living with what you want is a lot better than settling for second choice. Some guys aren't into cars and do that in other areas of their life.
Bernie