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Hi Gang...

Here's a short 4 min video I did earlier today after we cleaned out the Monte Carlo. We've since learned it is a 1948 Super Convertible so forgive the error of "year" in the video. Here's the link:

youtube.com/watch?v=Inbpn9XEhO8

Best...

Geoff

Interesting that the car still has the number from the Houston auction on the windshield!

Here is my "Gear Head Tuesday" post on the car. It includes many photos provided my Geoff:
56packardman.com/2018/02/20/gear-head-tu ... rlo-convertible-about-to-be-reborn/

I updated the post with a new thought on how the convertible may have come into being:

56packardman.com/2018/02/20/gear-head-tu ... rlo-convertible-about-to-be-reborn/

Further update - Geoff has sent new photos - he installed a set of white walls he had on hand and re-installed the cloisonn? wheel covers. He discovered that the front wheel wells have been lowered by 4" as on the Monte Carlo hardtop. The workmanship on this is excellent which increases my belief that this Monte Carlo convertible may have been a "Skunk Works" project by someone in Henney if it wasn't an official Henney project (as opposed to a dealer conversion).

Updated blog post:
56packardman.com/2018/02/20/gear-head-tu ... rlo-convertible-about-to-be-reborn/

Further update:
Geoff discovered that the front bumpers on both Monte Carlos are different than those used on any of the production 22nd Series Packards - see the photos.
56packardman.com/2018/02/20/gear-head-tu ... rlo-convertible-about-to-be-reborn/

Where did this bumpers originate? That both Monte Carlos share a non-production bumper indicates to me that the convertible version was also produced at Henney.

The one piece solid front bumper was a running change during the 22nd Series for the Custom 8 and continued on into the 23rd Series, see page 67 of Bob Neal's book. I'll see if I can find a pix of one.

EDIT: Best pix I could find is my old 23rd Series Custom 8 with the solid one-piece front bumper.

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<i>"that one piece solid front bumper was a running change during the 22nd Series for the Custom 8 and continued on into the 23rd Series."</i>

Ah ha!
Thank you!

Quote:

Dave (O_D), the pic is suitable.

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Thanks for the rework, that was a scan from an old Ektachrome slide. I had a lot of happy miles in that Packard, bought it in 1959 from a S/P dealer in Carlisle, PA for $85.

Hi

Viewing the recent details discovered on the convertible indicate that it was professionally built. While Henney's stock and trade was professional car coach building, occasional individual customizing jobs were undertaken, such as the Formal Club Sedan for the Canadian Prime Minister on a '51 Business Coupe in 1953 (Neal, page188). Its a reasonable possibility that an individual or Packard dealer saw the Monte Carlo hardtop, contracted Henney to customize a used '48 Super Eight convertible with styling features for that car utilizing 23rd Series trim components. If in building the Monte Carlo hardtop more than one set of nameplates were cast, that would be good evidence of a direct link.

Steve