Re: Aluminium bodies

Posted by Rusty O\'Toole On 2011/6/4 17:07:30

Custom made bodies were usually made of aluminum because it is easier to work with and form into shape. The additional cost was a small matter compared to the cost of the body.

Production bodies were stamped out on big presses and were made of steel.

The construction of your car is typical of a coachbuilt or special order car. The chassis was furnished by Packard with the fenders, running boards, cowl and hood. The rest of the body was made by hand.

Luxury car makers offered a catalog of custom body cars with bodies made by their favorite coachbuilders. Or the customer could order a chassis, have it delivered to his choice of coachbuilder and have a body made to his specifications.

In your case the body may have been made by an Australian coachbuilder. Are there any markings or maker's ID plate on the body?

If you show some pictures the real gone Packard experts should be able to identify it and tell you if it is a standard body, custom body, or something unique that did not come from the Packard factory.