If you're seriously thinking about this car, remember it has a later, smaller engine in it. Also the engine he has for rebuilding is from another car, the original engine was melted years ago.

Thanks, Steve. that is the kind of guidance I was looking for. Never having done either an interior or engine restoration, what sounded simple in the hands of my gearhead friends in engineering school 40 years ago is probably a major expense to me today.

And if the top end value is perhaps $20,000 for a restored 51 Patrician, it's just not going to work out economically if I ever decide to move to a 30's car.....

Caribbeandude you are right. I spoke to the seller this morning and expect to hear back with body and firewall numbers. He told me that he bought it in California and drove it back a number of years ago. It is currently powered with a 288, but the deal includes an optional 9 bearing senior 327 that is partially disassembled and could be rebuilt and installed.

It is his understanding that it was built on the line in Detroit as apparently Packard owned the Dietrich name at that point.

While the car and price are attractive
It is about 3000 miles from me, and flights would be $1000 return to go looking and getting it home would cost more than that.......tough decision.

On the other hand, it would be a special car to own, one that both my wife and I could drive, and wouldn't need much restoration........the back seat has sun damage to the broadcloth unless I wanted to put the original type 327 back in.

Steve, Sent you a PM

Thanks, West. I spoke to the current owner and it appears to be a restoration project car. It's been in storage for six years and the interior needs major work. Mechanically it's been sitting and tires, brakes, electrical, and fuel systems would need work. Add it all up and the budget is getting up to the area where a 'car not needing restoration would be a smarter move for me.

Thank you Owen, that is good information.....so a wheelbase measurement would confirm it as a 51 Patrician base. And, yes, you are right, Canada didn't go metric for cars until 1976-77.

Coming back to the Dietrich limo, are there specific features that would confirm it as a Deitrich even if not really a limo?

Thanks

Jim

Thanks, Steve.
That is very useful information and helps me move forward on this. but what detailed information do people need to hazard a guess at value?

Just as a point of interest, cars metricized in Canada in 1976-77, so anything built before then would be in miles.

Another car Iam considering is described as a 47 Clipper limo. It looks to be in good condition say a 3, and has the usual limo features like robe ropes, jump seats, better rear seat access deluxe interior, etc

Any idea on the value?

What do I need to find out or check before buying?

Thanks

Jim

I have been looking at pictures of a 51 Dietrich limo. Condition is claimed to be excellent and the pictures back that up for a newbie with no real knowledge to back up his oohs and aahs with hard questions......
Anyone got good idea on the value?
It may be Canadian built, does that affect the value?
The engine was swapped out for a 54, but the original engine is included for future rebuild and reinstall. What does that do to the value?

In order to evaluate the opportunity what do I need to find out? VIN/body number, what is wrong with the engine, etc etc

Thanks

Jim