Re: parts availability for pre-war models?

Posted by 28Pack526 On 2014/7/23 9:36:04

Hi megamotorhead,

I've long felt the same way about Packards, and would have provided a similar list of favorites. After doing some of the same research, I decided that parts availability notwithstanding, I preferred the aesthetic and was going to look for a 6th-8th series car.

I ended up with a 5th series after finding the right car for the right price (5-26 sedan), which was older than planned, but has been a joy to own thus far. What I've learned though, is that you'd better get used to Kanter and others telling you they don't have what you're looking for.

There were more than 28,000 5th series cars made from 27-28, so I can only imagine that once the depression set in and those figures plummeted, you're going to have an even harder time finding parts for the 6th-8th.

My car was a basket case when I bought it, and without access to a machine shop and NC milling machine, it still wouldn't be on the road. Consider that much of what you may need will either have to be reconditioned or fabricated outright.

Here's my list of on-line parts resources:

- www.classicaccessories.org/
- www.americanarrowcorp.com
- julrichpackard.com/parts_inventory.htm
- www.kanter.com/packard/pac-sen.html
- ken-thornton.com/p_srparts_ti.html
- www.customautoservice.com/
- www.packardsinternational.com/partsforsale.html
- www.ebay.com (of course)
- www.maxmerrittauto.com/
- www.classicandexotic.com
- classiccarmotoroil.com/products.php
- www.vintageandclassicreproductions.com/packard.htm

All of this said, I'd buy it again and I'm still looking for the right 8-26 :)