Re: 1929 Packard Phaeton Wood Framing

Posted by jimw On 2010/7/16 20:08:43

I don't know what other models would use the same parts other than all 6th series Phaetons. I'm surprised to hear that it might be prohibitively expensive. I know that a friend had a set made for his 633 Phaeton and that it cost him about $6,000 for the set without assembly. I did the assembly for him as a favor and for the learning curve. I have found that, if you have the tools and patience and understand how the cars were assembled, it is not too difficult. The only dimension that is given in any of the literature I have is the dimension of the widest part where the top bows attach. What I have found is that it is very important to take measurements of the original width of the sills at the points where the uprights fasten. You then need to use the body pieces that go below the doors as the measurement of how far apart the uprights go. If you do all of that correctly, the doors should fit with good gaps and line up properly. The hardest piece is the part that goes in the cowl. I would imagine that a closed car would be much more daunting given the difficulty of accessing everything without the body taken completely apart. Any way, it has been a fun experience and I would be happy to help anyone with a similar car.

Jim Wayman
640 Phaeton