Owen_Dyneto wrote:
Average engine life in that era was in the range of 100,000 miles or less, rarely much more and probably a valve job and perhaps even a ring job prior to that. So your engine may have already had some major service; therefore it's better to determine its actual condition rather than be guided by mileage.

It would be extremely rare if you have ATF fluid in the radiator due to a failed Ultramatic oil cooler; though the necks to the radiator hoses are often rusted, the heat exchanger core itself is monel or stainless steel and does not rust.

Yes, the grille is die cast white metal, cracks are pretty much unrepairable.

Owen_Dyneto wrote:
Regarding the missing keys, there are only 250 different keys used on all Packards from 1935 thru 1956 so if you've got a reasonable # of nearby Packard friends, buy some beer and have them bring their keys and you've got a chance of getting a "hit". And if you've got some really old (like me) Packard friends that have had a dozen or more over the years, you may find we have dozens and dozens of keys!

That lacking, you can purchase an inexpensive lock-picking kit from someone like Southord and with some practice (and developing a new skill that in time will prove useful to other new Packard owners) you'll be able to open the lock. Once open you can retrieve the B&S key# from the lock and any good locksmith can make a new key just from the key#. The kit below is about as simple and inexpensive as you can get yet is quite capable, with some practice, of doing vintage automotive locks.