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

A bit of trivia perhaps, but Packard filed for (6/15/35) and obtained (11/8/38) a U.S. patent for that trunk arrangement. Inventor was R. J. Thomas and the patent was assigned to the Packard Motor Car Co. The delay between application and granting was often manipulated (delayed as much as possible) by the inventor because when granted, patent protection was afforded from the filing date, and the longer you delayed it, the longer the filing was not publicly available.

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It's good to empty the trunk, first. Especially if you've got a floor jack and lots of tools inside.

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Thanks Owen, Now things are starting to make sense to me or maybe it is too much egg nog! The rear bumper will act as an "over center stop" for the tilting trunk (I had better get the bow tie guard off)and the rod becomes a safety prop to keep the trunk from inadvertently flopping back.
Wow, great drawing, thank you!
I wonder what the mechanical stresses are in this arrangement. It certainly looks precarious! Must certainly be planning on the trunk being empty when tilted.
Craig

Craig
It appears that the bumper guard may be in the way as well. So you may want the prop adjusted so that it won't even go that far. But then, that might not allow it to go far enough to open the trunk. Perhaps the bumper guards need to be deleted.

I wonder what the mechanical stresses are in this arrangement. It certainly looks precarious!

Don't forget what the trunk was designed for, 3 suitcases with clothes, not alot of weight. Tools and jacks etc. belonged under the seat. Not like what we pack into trunks today when touring, starters, generators, water pumps, tool boxes, oil, water, etc.

Yes, i was thinking the exact same. So my plan of putting a fuel cell bladder in this newly added trunk and shopping for cheap gasoline might prevent me from opening the car trunk? Darn! Maybe just 5gal jerry cans. I bet i could get 5 or 6 in there, lets see, at 8 lbs/gal x 25 gal= 200 lbs.
I need more eggnog and a calculator.

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Gasoline is about 6.6 lbs per gallon or so. And here in New Jersey it's $1.37 for regular so perhaps the fuel bladder isn't needed now. But just wait.....

Craig.
Sorry, but I put my brackets in the trunk of the car, which is in storage 50 miles away. When I pull it out for Spring, I'll snap some photos.

Neat looking setup. I had a pair of correct ( I believe???) short rear guards cast-borrowing an original from a man in Portland-for my 1936 2 door touring coupe. they, like the 1937s, don't have the upper and lower ends of the bowtie--now I was told this is correct, but I am wrong more than I am correct. looks a bit awkward to have the stock guards sticking out so far.Hard to know what was used 72 years ago! regards, Harland

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G'day Harland,
It's but could you please include your '36 in the Owner's Registry together with a pic, any known history and how you acquired it?

And Craig,

Here are a couple of pic's, of '37 Super 8 rear ends, one with full over-riders and one with short over-riders.

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