Thank you Wes! That's exactly what I needed. I didn't realize the owner's manual had been uploaded to the site. Next time I'm going crazy trying to find my copy I'll just look here. Thanks again, Jim

Hello, Can someone please tell me how many different keys my 1940 Packard 160 Super 8 would have had for the ignition, doors, trunk and glove box? In other words, did one key fit the ignition and door lock with a second key for trunk and glove box, or did the glove box have a separate key, or ?? I'd thought this would probably be in the owner's manual but I have misplaced it. Thank you very much! Jim

Hello,
I posted in the for sale/wanted section that I am looking for a set of inner trim rings for the wheels on my 1940 Packard Super 8 160. I have been cautioned that there are different inner trim rings for the junior models that look similar. How would I know the difference? Would it be that the wheels are smaller on junior cars and therefore the beauty rings are smaller as well? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Also, if anyone has a set for my car, I just need driver quality. If necessary I'll break down and buy new ones, but they don't really need to be show quality. Thanks very much.
Jim Meehan

Flackmaster, sorry for the delay, will get in touch with you via PM about a "T" handle but may take me some time. In the middle of moving, no fun especially with the holidays! I am in California, but I think I know who you may be thinking of in regard to Phoenix. There is a '40 Super 8 convertible sedan in Phoenix, owner also named Jim. Saw his project blog in one of the forums. Thanks again for all your help!

Jim

Thank you all very much for your help and information. Flackmaster, after reading your post I searched the internet and found several photos of 1940 Packards with "T" trunk handles, all senior models with trunk racks. I see what you mean about the oval shaped bezel. The few cars I have seen in person over the years had the other style trunk handle, which is much longer and, as you say, looks more like a long door handle. All this time I was thinking that is what I should have on my trunk! I still think one of those would hang down too far if I were to replace my "T" handle, but now I know I don't need to do that. Mine does not have the oval bezel, but I should be able to find the correct set up eventually.

JW and David, thanks for suggesting the Jim Hollingsworth book. Actually, I do have a copy that he signed for me when we corresponded about my car some years ago. I too looked through his book and could not find mention of the trunk handle topic. Jim was very friendly and willing to share his vast knowledge with a novice like me. I believe he was the source of my thought that my car is fairly early, based on the script hubcaps and a couple of other small details. I don't have the car here but I think it was around the 25th Super 8 convertible sedan, with a delivery date in January. Not sure about that, will have to check next time I'm out there. My car does not have the anti theft number on the firewall, and I recall reading in some thread that that may also be an indicator of an earlier car.

Thanks again for helping me clear up a minor detail that has puzzled me for years!

Jim

Hello All,

After a long absence I am finally back to working on my 1940 Super 8 convertible sedan. I would love to clear up an issue that has puzzled me for some time.

Over the years I have seen several senior cars, including mine, equipped with a 1939 "T" style trunk lid handle as opposed to the 1940 "fleur-de-lis" handle that matches the door handle design. The Packard Parts List shows that the "T" handle was used on 1939 and earlier models, while 1940 used only the other style handle. And of course there are two different 1940 handle assemblies listed, one with and one without a license light, depending on whether the car was equipped with a trunk rack (my car has the trunk rack with license light above).

In an earlier thread I read that the 1939 and 1940 trunk lids (that is, sedan vs sedan, coupe vs coupe) were pretty much the same except for the mounting holes for the trunk handles. Can anyone tell me if the mounting hole is lower on 1939 trunk lids vs the 1940 models? My car's mounting hole is about 3 1/4" above the lower edge of the trunk lid.

I know this is a long shot, but is there any chance that some of the early 1940 models came with 1939 "T" style handles? And if my "T" handle is incorrect, can I simply change it out for a 1940 handle, or is my mounting hole too low on the trunk lid? Also, the "T" handle has a simple round ferrule with one mounting hole, whereas the 1940 handle has a small base which requires two additional small holes that are not present in my trunk lid.

I would greatly appreciate any advice or information you can offer. Thank you very much for your time and help.

Jim

Hello all,

In my search for a '40's Packard convertible, I found a 1940 Packard 120 convertible sedan. It does not appear to me to be anything other than a production convertible sedan, yet it has a body plate stating "The Derham Co. Phila., Vehicle Number...." This tag is mounted just under the Packard body plate on the left firewall. The "vehicle number" is the same as the Packard body number.

I have contacted several Packard enthusiasts, but none has ever heard of a 1940 Derham 120 convertible sedan. Several have suggested that it might be a tag someone just slapped on the car to make it more interesting or valuable, and that is certainly possible. Does anyone have a Derham bodied car of any year/model with a tag on the car, and if so, can you describe the tag and where it is located, or send a photo? Or has anyone ever heard of a '40 120 convertible sedan being built by Derham? At first I thought maybe all the convertible sedans were sent out to be built by a outside source, but does not seem to be the case. I have also written to the CCCA Library at Hickory Corners to see if the Derham archives have anything.

If anyone can shed some light on this, I would sure appreciate any information you have to offer.

Thank you, Jim