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

I am at the point where I will construct the trunk shelf for my 120 Touring Sedan. I can make it based on the dimensions without much issue but I don't know how these were built initially. Does anyone have the following information:
1) Of what were these shelves made
2) Were they carpeted or not
3) If the materials of which these were built were assembled in multiple pieces instead of a single piece, were these pieces assembled using tongue-in-groove and glued together or were they assembled using some other technique.
I have really appreciated everyone's expertise while I get my Packard on the road.

I believe that the shelf is plywood.
There is no carpet, only a rubber mat.

While I doubt that Packard (or their suppliers) use it for making drawers and shelves, from a woodworkers perspective, I would suggest you consider using Baltic birch plywood of the correct thickness. It is a great product for this type of application. It will provide a look that is way above using even high grades of plywood available from a Home Depot or Lowe's store and it should only cost about 15 to 20% more.

Second the birch. It seems much more stable and doesn't come warped like most plywood...

to reiterate the obvious, exterior grade preferred so the glue is moisture resistant. Most Baltic birch is sold for cabinetry. But I agree that the quality is far superior to ordinary plywood.

As you said, there appear to be no good photos of a 37 trunk shelf readily found. We don't have a 37 fact book but there is a poor photo of a 36 and 38 trunk in those year fact books. From the photos showing what appears to be a full width shelf, I would guess it was made from the plywood others have suggested and the wood edge was exposed. It would appear the shelf just has a thin mat laying on top. Another thread has a photo of what is thought to be an original 39 mat posted in comment #15 on the second page.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb ... .php?post_id=144048#forumpost144048

Since the 120 was a basic car and even had a bare bones rubber mat covering the front seat floor, I would doubt the trunk mat was anything as luxurious as regular carpet. Even into the 50s the basic trunk mat was a very thin piece of support material with a coarse fiber like coating on one side. In 37 I would not expect much more than a rubber mat or the thin fiber piece similar to that of the 39.

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Good Morning...One might also consider Marine Plywood. It is among the better types of plywood. Designed for use in a wet environment. Ernie in Arizona

Hey Roger, I'm getting ready to send out your order today. I have a template for that rear shelf, if you need it I can put it in the box for you. let me know. Mike/Tucson Packard

Not shown, but isn't there supposed to be a hole in the shelf and maybe the rubber mat too to check the spare's air pressure without having to remove it?

Hey, Mike. Yes, that would be great. I was going to start on it from what I've been able to create here, but if you have an actual template I would love to have it.
Roger