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A couple weeks ago I was taking my first sick day in who knows how many years and was watching recorded Gas Monkey Garage episodes. Well that caused a turn to Craig's List and the resulting project below. After finding the ole gal I hated to see her parted out. So I decided to take the plunge and try to restore her to as close to her original beauty as possible. I understand it isn't the best place to start, maybe it should be parted out but I hate to see that happen.

I haven't done auto restore work before, so it should be interesting. I am an engineer, worked in Detroit in the auto engineering world before returning to the family railroad business. So I do have a fair amount of metal working knowledge just not much sheet metal experience which I will obviously need. My plant does have a good bit of equipment that will come in handy press brake, radial drills, welding, 600 ton press, milling machines, bolt threaders, lathe, etc. I do have a good bit of experience wood working with most of the equipment required.

I plan on just dismantling her until we get down to bare frame and by then we will see exactly what is salvageable. Body is obviously in rough shape including the wood. Most of the interior widgets are there, major mechanical bits are at least present. So time and cases of PB Blaster will tell.

I realize I will probably have 80k in a 50k car, but it is all about the journey, while my wife may not agree I am sure the Kanter boys will. And I am sure a few forum readers will get a kick out of my ignorance along the way.

Who knows maybe she will end up looking nearly as well as the other picture below of the '37 1500 for sale somewhere on the world wide wibble.

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Great that you're restoring what will again be a fine Packard, and that you'll be documenting the process here as it moves along. I, for one, will be watching!

I say this with honest respect for your goals (and marriage).... That is a parts car.

Agreed that this Packard is in sad condition, but let's look at this objectively.
Approximately 2322 of these 1003s were built. Fifty are known to exist.
Back in the 50s and 60s very fine closed cars...formal sedans, limousines, Town Cars were parted out to restore open cars. It was sad.
I commend anyone who goes to the extreme effort to save another Packard from oblivion.

Another opinion, I agree with Bob that it is a noble cause; however having done a project or two, I also agree with Flackmaster. I'd guess the restoration cost of this car will exceed $100K unless you can do a high percentage of the work using your personal facilities and your own labor. Doing it with your own labor and if auto body, mechanics and upholstery are your profession and you have the facilities and tools, I'd guess well over 2000 hours, maybe 3000 hours. From a timing point of view, with a $100K to spend I'd guess 2 years, doing it yourself maybe 3-5 years. There are lots of other senior Packards that may deserve your devotion. Best wishes on your endeavor.

what is the symbol on the front doors, can you make it out?

A few months ago I looked at a 37 Three window rumble seat super 8 coupe. It was in similar condition. The coupes are my favorite body style. I told the gentleman that I could not make the numbers crunch in favor of buying the car and did not make an offer. A friend once told me if the car were free and they gave you twenty thousand dollars it may still be to expensive. I think this car qualifies. That being send if you do decided to restore it.....

1) Do the windows first. They will soften the voice of your wife as declares your brilliance and it will help water proof the car for habitation.

2) Restore the car and put on steel railway wheels and a cow catcher and deduct the costs as a business expense. I'm sure the government will have no problem with this.

Best Wishes,

It says Dixie Races also can barely make out Lynchburg Speedway below it:

Over the years NASCAR sanctioned races ran at many of the western Virginia tracks, including Morris, Fieldale, Starkey, Victory Stadium, Ararat, Lynchburg, New River Valley, Lonesome Pine, and the twice-yearly NASCAR races at Martinsville Speedway. An early rival to NASCAR, the Dixie Circuit, based in Lynchburg, was organized in the early 1950s and raced at speedways in Southwest Virginia and North Carolina. In 1952 the Dixie Circuit promoted races at Lynchburg, Danville, and Roanoke, and in North Carolina at Henderson and Camp Butner; Pulaski County Speedway joined the Dixie Circuit in 1953. Midget racing had its own circuits including the AAA fairground circuit, the Dixie Midget Circuit, and the AAA Virginia-Pennsylvania Midget Circuit.

vaautoracing.org/oval2.htm

interesting pictures on the website, including one with a wheel flying through the air and a car sitting by the track with hood flopped up.

Couldn't find anything specifically of the Lynchburg Speedway, thinking maybe this car was a pace car or promotional car of some kind?

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Have to ask - Are you by chance related to Beverley Rae Kimes who edited the Automotive Quarterly book "Packard" which many consider the definitive book on Packards?

yeah i was wondering if that was the reason for the avatar name as well.