Re: Non packard question

Posted by 58L8134 On 2019/2/2 9:39:52

During the 1920's, there was an aftermarket customizing movement that was more akin to the 1940's-1950's "Kustoms" than the custom coach building then at its zenith. It took various forms, one which this car appears to be. The process was to start with a large, used older expensive make and modify its styling to disguise its origin. Many even attached nameplates to pretentious suggest it was custom-built for the current owner.

By the size of the wheels, length of the hood and wheelbase and overlapping door seems, it was a large make from the 1917-1922 era. The radiator shell, which either mimicked Rolls-Royce or was unidentifiably non-descript, would have vertical bars attached, appears on a number of these customs. The hood would be formed to make the transition.

Other popular custom features were the victoria cape top, the aftermarket low chromed windshield, porthole vents rounding out the package. Those large headlights on fork stanchions were common on luxury makes up to the mid-1920's, sources from a wrecking yard. The only features missing are the fenders bobbed to cycle-style, running boards replaced with individual step plates and wire wheels.

For a moderate outlay with work done by a local body and fender shop, the owner got a "distinctive motorcar" to impress his friends and family.

Steve