Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

What a mess!!
Can I assume that this is someone's idea of a reproduction?
ebay.com/itm/131471815652?_trksid=p20603 ... l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

West, we've been chatting a just a bit about it already; see the end of the "Various CL Pickings" thread for those comments. If nothing else, for a "recent restoration" that's the worst fitting convertible top I've ever seen.

Dave

The rear door and B pillar are not even close, either. The word I heard was that the windshield frame and possibly the front doors are authentic.

Back in the 70's there was an operation here in the northwest recreating their version of the "Darrin".

The car was, in my opinion a pos, It was not a 20 footer as even at that distance it was obviously not real.

A number of them were sold and this is possibly one of them.

This is just my opinion, Buyer Beware.

John

Hi

The photos tell the story, first the real, second the ersatz. The latter looks like an unfortunate Darrin with poorly-repaired collision damage.

Steve

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I'd look forward to some comments about the correctness of the rear door quarter window. I see it is present in the Bill Hirsch car which is of unquestioned authenticity, and also present in the questionable car, but not present in the silver/gray one just pictured by 58L8134. Chrysler of that era or just before offered a vent window which retracted simultaneously with the main door glass but I can't recall that this was a feature of the 4-door Darrin convertibles or for that matter any Packard.

Is it my imagination or are those different rear fender contours. To my eye the real item looks to be more tapered toward the tail light but maybe that is just the color difference or photo angle.

Hi Owen

I just picked that photo of the real one from on-line images, selected it as its approximately the same angle. Looks as if the windows are all rolled down. But I imagine the rear door quarter window is present.

HH56: The rear fenders and quarters on the real Darrin are lengthened so the profile would look different.

Steve

Possibly a car put together from parts left over after "Packards-Re-In-Car-Nation" closed its doors some time in the late 80s or early 90s. I heard that the left over parts (cast al. cowls, windshields, etc.) ended up in the southeast. Packards-Re-In-Car-Nation was a company founded by Vernon Peroit which "built copies" of 1940 Packard Darrin Victorias and convertible sedans in Washington State