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

I was looking at a 120 inch wheelbase 1938 Packard a couple weeks ago. According to what I've read it should be 127 inch wheel base. Its a junior 120 or Packard 8. The firewall number shows it in the 1938 year range. Does anyone know if Packard made 120 inch wheelbase Packard 8 in the 120 line in 1938?

The shortest wheelbase in 1938 was 122 inches for the Six, not shared with the Eight (often incorrectly called the 120).

Hi Dean,

Where did you get the '120' number from??? Did you actually measure the wheel base? If you did, just want to confirm you measured center to center on the wheels, right??? Might sound like a stupid question, but I have heard of some strange perceptions of what 'wheel base' is.

I looked at the firewall stamped number. I measured center to center on the wheel base. Sounds like none were produced. This must have been modified at some point in its life. Thanks

Dean, are you certain the front wheels were in the straight-ahead position when you measured? If not, you wouldn't get the correct measurement. Also I'm sure you're aware that the Fifteenth Series 120 did have a wheelbase of 120", so any chance it was a year earlier than you thought?

That's why I asked the question. I thought all 1938s were at least 127". I would assume it was repaired in the last 80 years with earlier parts since it shouldn't exist with 120" wheelbase. Thanks again for your expertise.

1935 to 1937 Juniors have 1-piece windshields:

115" wheelbase = 1937 Six
120" wheelbase = 1935-37 120 / One Twenty

----------

1938 to 1941 Juniors have 2-piece windshields:

122" wheelbase = Six / 110
127" wheelbase = Eight / One Twenty / 120

Dean, not to beat this thing to death, but you mention the 'firewall stamped number' which I presume is the 'Theft Proof' identification. Is the 'dealer plate' missing on the vehicle??
Presuming it is, with Packard numbers not being 'matching' per se, the theft-proof number may be on the edge of identifying with '37 AND '38. And, in as much as it is being called a '120', which is a misnomer for '38, it's possible the 'year advertised' is incorrect. Wrong models and incorrect year classifications don't seem that uncommon in Packardom. Chris