<i>"Aren't they called UTE's instead of pickups in Oz? Think they were very practical for a small pickup and cargo carrying implementation but for some reason small like that never really caught on here. Believe Studebaker had a smaller car based version for a year or two -- the Coupe Express I think it was called"</i>

Ford of Australia introduced the Ute in 1934 based on a letter from a farmer's wife who requested a vehicle that could take the family to church on Sunday and do farm work the rest of the week.

Studebaker offered the Coup?-Express from 1937-1939 in the U.S. There was a planned revival of the Coup?-Express for Studebaker in the still born Studebaker-Packard common body program for 1957.

https://56packardman.com/2016/02/16/gear-head-tuesday-studebakers-prophetic-coupe-express/

25 February 2018
New photos from Geoff:
??Theft Proof Number
? Briggs Body Number
? Engine Number
* How Henney filled in the taillight space viewed from inside the trunk.

https://56packardman.com/2018/02/20/gear-head-tuesday-packard-monte-carlo-convertible-about-to-be-reborn/

<i>"the Monte Carlo's development, it appears to have been purely a Henney speculation project to demonstrate design consultant Arbib's capabilities to Packard." etc. ...</i>

Excellent summary of the situation at Packard!
Dealer volume in 1950 plunged.

My own opinion is that with the 24th Series pending, especially in light of the management turmoil, the Monte Carlo proposals from Arbib/Henney were just that - to showcase what Arbib and Henney could do for Packard. My opinion about this is that Packard neither encouraged nor commissioned Arbib or Henney in this project. I don't know the history of the "bathtubs" - I've always been more interested in the V-8s.

That Arbib/Henney pitched three Monte Carlo proposals to Packard indicates a persistence on their part.

I was away from the computer far longer than I thought I would be today. Here is the update I promised earlier.

It now appears that Arbib's Monte Carlo proposal was much more involved than has been remembered or recognized up to now.

Geoff also notes that the grille on his Monte Carlo convertible is an interesting hybrid between the Super Eight and the Custom Super Eight.

https://56packardman.com/2018/02/20/gear-head-tuesday-packard-monte-carlo-convertible-about-to-be-reborn/

<i><b>(Scroll Down)</i></b>

Steve - Geoff uncovered more information last night. I'll post it here this afternoon. What Geoff learned indicates to me that the convertible was an in-house project for Henney. Don't have time to post it now; will do it this afternoon - it's very interesting!

<i>"that one piece solid front bumper was a running change during the 22nd Series for the Custom 8 and continued on into the 23rd Series."</i>

Ah ha!
Thank you!

Further update - Geoff has sent new photos - he installed a set of white walls he had on hand and re-installed the cloisonn? wheel covers. He discovered that the front wheel wells have been lowered by 4" as on the Monte Carlo hardtop. The workmanship on this is excellent which increases my belief that this Monte Carlo convertible may have been a "Skunk Works" project by someone in Henney if it wasn't an official Henney project (as opposed to a dealer conversion).

Updated blog post:
https://56packardman.com/2018/02/20/gear-head-tuesday-packard-monte-carlo-convertible-about-to-be-reborn/

Further update:
Geoff discovered that the front bumpers on both Monte Carlos are different than those used on any of the production 22nd Series Packards - see the photos.
https://56packardman.com/2018/02/20/gear-head-tuesday-packard-monte-carlo-convertible-about-to-be-reborn/

Where did this bumpers originate? That both Monte Carlos share a non-production bumper indicates to me that the convertible version was also produced at Henney.

I updated the post with a new thought on how the convertible may have come into being:

https://56packardman.com/2018/02/20/gear-head-tuesday-packard-monte-carlo-convertible-about-to-be-reborn/

Here is my "Gear Head Tuesday" post on the car. It includes many photos provided my Geoff:
https://56packardman.com/2018/02/20/gear-head-tuesday-packard-monte-carlo-convertible-about-to-be-reborn/

Thank you, Geoff - I couldn't get the photo to upload.
I usually don't have trouble with that but I couldn't get it to work today.