Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

Old Gold: Are you still kicking aorund those ideas for a new rear bumper for me?

I really hate to put the stock one back on, given its poor quality chrome finish, plus I really like the "cleanness" of the car's appearance without it . . .

Jim G

I like it. trying to talk a guy into trading me his chop top 48 custom super 8 for my 36 3 window, wife is not to happy about the idea.

Wow! All I can say is that if Packard had built them like you are building yours, they would still be at the top of prestige ownership list. I am in the middle of a Packard modification project as well. My project is a 1950 Super Deluxe sedan that was buried up to the windows in a creek bed. So far I have shaved all the chrome, handles,removed the vent windows, and chopped the top 3 inches. It has a Pontiac front sub frame with a super duty 455 engine. It is tubbed and has a 9 inch Ford rear end. It is being disassembled now for paint. The local Packard guys really blasted me and my reply was if they wanted to give me what I paid for the car, then they could do what ever they wanted to with it. I had no takers. Best of luck with your project. Like the others keep the pictures coming.

Packardtaximan said: <i><b>Pontiac front sub frame with a super duty 455 engine</i></b>

What kind of front sub frame? Gen-2 Firebird?

A REAL 455 Super Duty???

BTW, I have an original 55 Pat with Packard V-8, but I am thinking seriously about transplanting a 455 Pontiac (non-SD) into a 56 400 I have that needs restoring.

Craig

Personally I would rather see a Packard rodded out, then sent to the crusher. As least it still a Packard in spirit, and it's back on the road, rather then being recycled into rebar.

I think were most people cringe is when a good original, or solid restorable one is cut up for the sake of being different.

With the price of scrap metal today, you are seeing more and more scrap dealers at junkyard auctions outbidding people. So the days of buying a project car or parts car for $500 or $1,000 is quickly closing as the price of scrap metal goes up.

Buy them now folks, and put them away while you can!!! You dont want that next box of nails you buy at Lowes to be made from that project/parts car that you "should have" bought!

I agree with Kevin, I have a '53 Clipper parts car that I was going to haul to the crusher, but the more I think about it I'd rather keep the hulk than see it go to the junkyard. There's too many cars from the '70s and '80s out there that they can crush before they get to something valuable like a '50s car.

Hiya,
The price of scrap has dropped in New England.
It was around 9 cents a pound for light iron..now it's about 2 cents a pound as of 9/15/08.
We had a bunch of stuff to take to the scrap dealer and were suprised when we heard about the price drop.
I'd love to see these project cars when they're done.

I have been gone for awhile being swamped at the restoration shop. I was getting caught up reading forums and came across this one. What I have found is that many in here are a bunch of hypocrites. I was reading this story about the guy who butchered this 4 dr into oblivion and you all praise his work and call it art. I resto-moded an orphan 53 Clipper and was chastised by you so called pro's. I restored the Clipper to look perfect and better than new and no one knows what is under the hood until you tell them. This car was invited to a Concourse De'elegance show in Lexington, KY.until the car head hunter checked out the up grades. That is how much our shop saved this certain smasher. I was told what we did was a simple swap and that I was a thief for ripping off our customer and was called a liar for saying car was mine when I had stated who the owner is on different forums here and on different web sites. You call old golds work interesting and artistic. I call it he is bored shit less and on crack. Funny how Packard 53, Turbo packman, and Clipper 47, acknowledge this genius's work of art. Go back to "how to modify your Packard for fame and money". And read what happened when I challenged a forum. You go girls and remember "Don't smash em Butcher em"

Perhaps in this case its the messenger and not the message.

Mr. Prince, the difference between you and and OldGold is that he kept the original engine and you FU#KED up a good car by putting a Chevrolet engine in it, plain and simple. Keeping the original engine makes all the difference in the world. That, and your attitude makes me think you're Peter Hartmann's brother.

A Packard without a Packard engine is not a Packard.