Re: Work on the 1953 Derham Formal

Posted by Stephen Houseknecht On 2017/6/16 0:04:18

Ride- For the 53 model year it was decided to offer a limited number of Derham Formals. According to a handwritten response from Enos Derham to the second owner (the Packard relation) twenty five were made for the US market and several went overseas. Turns out this was a one year marketing attempt to regain a part of the luxury market. I believe the cars were randomly sent to Derham for modification. They were given the designation 2653 although they are 2652s . My paint is black ,code X,and interior is 801 tan. 802 light green and 803 gray were also available. A drivers compartment divider window was also available for an additional $245. It could be had as power or roll up window. The cost of a Derham was around $6700.

I am also assuming the purchaser could have a certain amount of customization done. eg the divider window, the body and top color. At least one other car had the cream colored top- a photograph of that car at Zell Motors in Baltimore is here on the website. All others that I am aware of had the black top with black paint except for the yellow one in the Neal book. By randomly I mean if you wanted black and tan they pulled a black and tan, black and gray or black and light green. I don't know if the cars had to be ordered by a certain date in 1952 and sent as a group to Derham or did this continue through 53. A question Robert Neal never answered for me.

I have all the original delivery info to the original owner who picked the car up on Feb 28, 1953 from Ostendorf Motor Car Co, the Buffalo Packard dealership. The second owner (Packard relation) purchased the car from his estate.

And yes, the car does have rust. Arrangements are being made to get southern fenders for it, have already gotten a complete trunk floor from Ross Miller.

I supplied information to Mr. Neal for the 51-54 book including scans of Derham correspondence and received my copy of the book when it was first available.

Steve- Where did you see it on Transit? I think you mention several years ago it was toward the Southtowns.