Packard Forum Index » Packard Vehicles - For Sale, Wanted, Trade

The rear-mounted spare was certainly an oddity on a coupe roadster, but I don't think it was out of the question

Certainly not "out of the question", in fact it was standard equipment, probably more common than you think. Here's a 901 coupe Victoria with rear spare. Also while not a coupe, a '32 Waterhouse club sedan with rear spare and hinged center bumper section which I've seen a number of '32s with rear spare.

Attach file:

---

  (108.05 KB)


  (114.58 KB)

Rear mounted spares were a lot more common than thought because many open cars were converted during the 60's.

Here is a short list of cars with rear mounted spares from my immediate memory:

Cavallero: 32 Phaeton
Gallagher: 32 Phaeton
Hirsch: 32 Coupe Roadster
Hirsch: 34 Sedan - Su8
Heinmuller (I think): 34 Coupe Roadster - Su8
Pratt: Two 32 Phaetons
Finn: 36 Coupe
Wemple: 32 Opera Coupe
Webber: 33 Coupe Roadster - Su8
One other fellow: Two 32 coupes (I can't remember his name)

Almost all of these cars have moved on since.

The car in the Craigs list ad is an early 32. It needs to have the dash panel redone because it is not done correctly. It should be engine turned oxide finish. The cigar lighter is not correct among other little odds and ends. It if still has the four speed aluminum case transmission that is very desirable.

Here's a couple more, '36 Super ex-Harrah now living in northern NJ, and another coupe Victoria. I just love how the lack of sidemounts, especially on the convertible, lets you more fully appreciate the flowing lines - to me sidemounts would detract from that car!

Tim, do you have any idea what ever became of Tom Finn's '36 Super? I see Tom a couple of times a year, he's still in the hobby but has moved to other cars - lately a Sunbeam Tiger and Corvette.

Attach file:

---

  (140.48 KB)


  (114.95 KB)

Hi

I think the telltale is the rake angle of the wheel mounting looks too upright for a coupe-roadster. What's on the car in question looks more like those used on sedans. They definitely laid them down more in the later model years. Were there different rear mounted spare assemblies listed for the coupes and coupe-roadsters?

Personally, I prefer the rear mounted spare, it allows the clean sweep of the front fenders and an unbroken lines of the hood to look so nice and long!

Steve

Here's an oddity, a '49 22nd Series six cylinder sedan, seller list the VIN 2282-92861. The 2282 specifies a 120" wb six cylinder sedan built for export only, not a taxi.
detroit.craigslist.org/okl/cto/5416999499.html
Rough shape, still has an Ohio license plate for it appears 1962.

First 6 cylinder I've seen listed in a post '47 Packard...
John

Three from a desert climate:

spokane.craigslist.org/cto/5426161497.html

First 6 cylinder I've seen listed in a post '47 Packard...

Small wonder, they're a pretty rare bird; taxis excluded only 800 Sixes were produced and as I understand it all those were built for export.

One more, looks nice:spokane.craigslist.org/cto/5408762219.html

Back for a moment to the rear-mounted spares, I just came across the photo I was looking for of a 32 coupe that more clearly shows the clever hinged center section of the bumper to facilitate removing/remounting the spare.

Attach file:

---

  (118.17 KB)

If the coupe roadster is a fake that should show up in the VIN. 9th series began using the body model in the VIN.
So the VIN should be a 384ci coupe roadster body number followed by a production number.

I agree that the spare doesn't look right and the ride height seems too good. Sedans used different springs and shocks so using a sedan chassis will result in a harsher ride.

As well the fender lights are the later 9th series type which justifies a careful examination.

However, fakes usually go all the way and add sidemouts but maybe they didn't want them in this case. At one point cars were being cut up for the sidemounts at such a high rate that people were buying rear mounted spare cars just to preserve them. What makes such abominations even more absurd is that the rear mounted spare cars drive better without all that dead weight hanging off the frame rails. Such is Packard history.