One more, my dad's

1949 Custom Eight
VN 2252-9-7371
TPN- not yet
Engine - not yet

Ok, here are a couple more

1939 Super Eight
VN 12722816
TPN 483050
Engine B503343

1948 Deluxe Eight Club Sedan
VN 22651110
TPN 823016
engine G256268GE

I really like the back seat in that car. Good question about the front seat. I have no idea why that's different.

I just picked up a 48 Deluxe Eight Club sedan that is being delivered today. Can't wait to be able to get some better pics. It was shoved in a tiny garage. The paint is pretty blah looking but the body is in great shape and it has a relatively new interior, although it's kind of cheesy. But, it looks like a a great driver and might even splurge on a nice paint job on it down the road.

There was also a nice 49 Deluxe Eight Touring Sedan in Ocean City that had a decent redone interior and new paint. It finally sold but that was tempting as well.

I have to quit looking at CL..lol.

Very nice, that's what it's all about. Get the kids in the car

Well, I can't speak for your friend, but I can share my thoughts on buying old cars, ok Packards.

I used to buy projects as demonstrated by the 55 400 I just sold. I paid $4500 for it in the mid 90's. I then proceeded to have the engine rebuilt and had the engine compartment painted while the engine was out of the car. Add $6500. It still needed a tranny rebuild $3,500; paint $5,000 and new interior $5,000. At the end of the day I would have $25,000 into a car worth $10,000 so I decided to cut my loses and I sold the car for $2,500. I decided I could buy a pretty nice 400 for $10,000 today.

I also bought a 53 Patrician for $3,500 in the same time frame. It had tatty seats, pitting in the chrome, a little rust in the rockers. I sold that car to my mechanic's mom and dad. is mom saw the car just had to have it. I figured it was good to double the amount of Packard owners in the local area.
I used to look at that car and all I could see were the imperfections. I even bought a $20 seat cover to cover the tatty seat.

I saw that car a couple years ago proudly parked in their garage next to a couple Chryslers. The pitted chrome had hours spent on polishing it. The original paint had hours spent on buffing it. The same 20 dollar seat cover was still on it. I couldn't believe how nice that car looked.
It just glowed. The dad laughed at me when I offered to buy it back. This car in original condition, with all the imperfections parked next to some Chryslers worth a lot more than it, was still the Packard. It will never be for sale.

I have since learned that original condition cars are now very acceptable. Patina I think it's called. I have learned that now I look at what a car does have instead of what it doesn't.

Now when I am looking for cars I have a new check list.In this order:

1) I look for a good interior, either original or redone. That is a very expensive part of a restoration. Usually worth at least $ 5,000 is you plan on having it done.

2) I look for either good original or redone paint and chrome. Each can be worth $5,000 if you plan on having it done.

3) Mechanical, this is the easiest and least expensive part to have redone.

I used to only look at cars under $5,000 figuring I could have the other parts done as the budget permitted. Now I look for cars in the $5 to $10 k range using the above check list. I am finding a nice selection of cars available that I can get on the road faster and I don't have to put as much money into them.

http://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/carsforsale/packard/deluxe/1572362.html

Here's a car I like. I have to quit looking at it.

"This is a 1955 Clipper Constellation in fairly good shape, certainly on the right path to restoration."

Lol, that's a car I have for sale on CL and ebay right now.
http://public.fotki.com/Tagginbac/packards/page4.html

It didn't sell last week and this week isn't looking good so I guess I'll probably have to hang on to it and get it running. I wouldn't mind having the garage space back though

There was a 41 Clipper for sale for $2,500 in March that was a deal. The interior and paint were done 10 years ago and it sat for ten years.

That 47 limo is a 49 and I agree with you, that is a sweet looking ride. pics are here:
http://richmond.craigslist.org/cto/3741382613.html

New interior, rebuilt engine. Sweet ride


The 55 400 was a car I sold also:
http://public.fotki.com/Tagginbac/temporary-files/page22.html
It had the sweetest engine rebuild:
http://public.fotki.com/Tagginbac/tinpans-videos/

I sold it for $2,500 and the guy I sold it to flipped it on ebay for $3,800. That car had a lot of mechanical stuff done to it, it just needed the tranny rebuilt, paint and interior. OK, well, actually that is quite a lot, but...

Thanks guys, that is a wealth of information. Looks like the 56 400 was the 230th produced. Interesting.

Apparently I suck at finding engine numbers. lol

I did find the one for my 52 400. It is K601885



Here's the 54 convertible. I do not see the raised part on the block. I guess I'll try scrubbing that area a little.

Thanks GTO, I've been all over that side of the block and can't find number. I am going to have my buddy do another round of trying to get the windows working again, I'll have him get the numbers when he does that. lol.

Here's two more:

1952 Patrician
TPN B27947
plate in engine compartment - 2552- 3938
plate on door ( painted over) 2552- looks to be 5938 maybe it's the same as the engine compartment

1956 400
TPN - D13052
door plate 5687-1230
paint MK
Trim 86

Ok, I figured I would start trying to capture the numbers on the cars I have and maybe my fathers as well. Also, trying to figure out what info the numbers may yield. Some of the cars have data plates, some have blank spots and are blank so I thought I would list them here, maybe one or two at a time and start trying to sort them out.

I'll start with the Packard number, followed by the TPN and engine number. I don't know how to identify if the engine is original or not. Maybe we can piece this together.

Any help would be appreciated

First is the 1954 convertible

5479-2570
C78043

I haven't been able to find the engine number, I think I'll have to put it on a lift to find it.This car is the source of a few questions. It looks to have a 327 engine. In speaking with my mechanic, I had always thought there were two convertible models this year. The Caribbean and the convertible. I thought they both had 359 engines. He seems to think there was also a 327 version. I'd like to figure out if this is the original engine or if it was replaced.


The second car is a 1955 Clipper Constellation
D25654
5567-2986
Paint M
Trim 30

Debating on whether to keep the Constellation or not. I have it on ebay right now.

Thanks

Tinpan