22nd/23rd Series Engine Color Survey

Posted by JD in KC On 2013/9/1 10:57:00

I was participating in a conversation over on the PAC website regarding the correct engine color in 22nd/23rd series cars. All knowledgeable sources that I am aware of say the color is gray ['colour is grey' for our British English speaking friends]. A poster on the website was commenting on the large number of green engines he was encountering while looking at on-line ads. The engine in his 1949 Eight is green. I had seen a few green examples over the years but didn't think there were that many so I went looking.

I went through the 22nd, 23rd series photos in the PackardInfo archive, Hemmings, Craigslist, AutoTrader, and some other on-line sources. I managed to find color pictures of 30 open engine compartments. Here are the results:

50.0% Gray
33.3% Green
10.0% Too rusty to determine color
03.3% Black and Blue
03.3% Red

One-third of all the photos I found showed green engines. So... that brings me to the question I'd like to ask the PackardInfo 22nd/23rd series owners. Does your car(s) have a gray or a green engine? If it's green, why? e.g., personal preference, it came that way from the P.O., looks better with the chrome acorn nuts, none of your business, etc.

I'd like to see what percentage of green engines we come up with. Thanks!