Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

Does anyone know whether the Packard factory sprayed the inside of 23rd Series trunks with undercoating? I can't tell whether what I'm finding is from the factory or part of a previous restoration.

Thanks,

Steve

On the sides the surfaces are flocked, not undercoated at least in the "senior" models.

They used flocking on the sides and maybe the floor but the exact color is a question. It was a sort of tan in prewar years but some have said by 23rd they were more in a tan/gray blend and started going with grayish/brown by the early 50s models.

The modern flocking materials are a much finer fiber than what Packard used but the result is OK. Nylon is a coarser fiber than rayon but is still much finer than the original.flockit.com

The lower end models had a thin mat on the floor to go with the flocking. It is a question on whether the entire floor was flocked under the mat but on mine it looked like it may have been going by some of the residue next to creases in the floorpan. The Custom models had a full carpet treatment over the flocking although I am not sure that holds for the 23rd Customs which seems to have been somewhat downscale from the 22nd and earlier.

Here is what the modern nylon flocking material looks like applied on my 47. Due to the original's condition it was a guess on the color and maybe not quite what Packard used. There are several colors to choose from.

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My old 23rd Series Custom 8 was a fairly late car. Sides of the trunk compartment were flocked, a medium tan. Trunk floor had a rather thin darker tan carpet, though calling it carpet is being kind to it -a rather cheesy, flimsy almost Burtex-like material. If a Custom 8 is the car in question I have a photo of the trunk interior somewhere.

Thanks for all the replies. I just bought this car. It is a 1949 Deluxe Eight, so lower-end applies, and it has the thin trunk mat. This is a 29,000-actual-mile car and was owned for a while by the Volo Museum. It was purchased from them and sat in an unheated garage for 25 years. Not sure who decided to undercoat the trunk interior, but I'm in the process of chipping it all off. The trunk floor is still solid, but I'm finding moisture under the undercoating in some places. I may look into the flocking, and I'll probably go for a non-authentic fitted and bound carpet.

"I just bought this car. It is a 1949 Deluxe Eight"

Steve,

Wait, what's that I hear? Why it's the siren sound of the Packard Owner's Registry calling to your '49 Deluxe Eight to be included.

I nearly forgot about the Registry. Glad you are doing that, and thanks for the reminder. I just added the car.

Not sure who decided to undercoat the trunk interior, but I'm in the process of chipping it all off.

It may not be undercoating but rather the adhesive for the flocking. The modern fiber from FlockIt uses a colored material as adhesive that matches the flock color and is almost paint like in consistency. The old adhesive may have been different because of the need to hold the larger fibers. Packard refers to it as synthetic varnish or just adhesive but on the 47 it was quite thick in some areas -- thick enough to shrink and crack.

Packard was very proud of using things they touted as "modern scientific materials" for reducing noise and drumming of sheetmetal. It is conceivable they could have had a similar consistency material to hold the flock fibers.

"I nearly forgot about the Registry.... I just added the car."
Shock, horror! How can anyone forget about the Registry? That aside, for including your '49 Deluxe Eight Touring Sedan.

Further Steve for also including your '47 Clipper Six Touring Sedan in the Packard Owner's Registry. I like the colour, even though it may not be correct.