Re: 1937 roof

Posted by Mahoning63 On 2013/3/17 14:36:23

Interesting discussion and thanks Rusty for laying out the details.

Prior to all steel roofs it seems that Packard and other OEMs were able to construct several roofs and therefore body styles with a comparatively few number of stampings. For example, the shape of the '35-39 Senior club sedan rear roof section appears to be the same as all the touring sedans, which suggests that Packard stamped one rear roof shell with backlight opening then trimmed to get a particular C-pillar shape. Perhaps formal sedan's solid C-pillar may also have come from this same initial stamping. The 5-pass coupe and 2/4 coupe also appear to share a common rear roof shell, narrower than the sedans and differently shaped. Appears that Packard also had two unique stampings for the roof forward section from windshield to B-pillar, one for the short front door and another for the long... or perhaps one common stamping from windshield to leading edge of insert for all body styles and seperate sections above the remaining length of the two front door lengths. Also unique stampings for the roof side sections above the three rear door lengths and for the 5 pass coupe to connect the front to the rear roof sections. Can anyone confirm or clarify any of this?

Since we are on the topic of roofs, recall reading that Clipper was first Packard to use a roof stamped in one piece from windshield to end panel/decklid. Have seen pics of late 30s GM roofs being welded together and they appear to have a separate top cap that was welded to the roof C-pillar and backlight panels. Is this how Packard roofs were constructed from '38-42? (excluding Clipper). If so, did the 138" and 148" wheelbase cars have a one piece stamped cap or were they a mod of the 127" roof cap with inserts welded in?

Thanks.

UPDATE: some of the pics near bottom of link show early 40s or early post-war GM roof stamping and assembly. Appears to be an "almost" one piece roof, the lower part of C-pillar being seperate. The pic I had seen in a book was of an earlier GM car, probably late 30s, with a seperate top cap. Will post if I can find.http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/f/fisher/fisher.htm