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

Pete,

This car was a custom job that was done after leaving the factory. So you really cant compare anything in to anything that rolled out of the factory. Wood framing, masonite body panels, major stretch, so with that level of change, and the fact it was a war department vehicle, you cant expect to look like a normal 42 Clipper.

So unless you have pictures of the actual car and its interior form its use during the war, then who's to say the wood graining or window revels are off or any other details. I am sure the lab and/or museum used any internal historic photos that they had to restore it to the level that was within their budget.

As far as I am concern they didnt a wonderful job compared to how it looked when they pulled it out of the boneyard.

Just my

I argee Kev with the 'uniqueness' of this car.
A lot of "low-budget alteration work"
(I hesitate to call it'custom work')
was done as a WWII effort of the Army on 100's of Clippers. The original thread discussing this car is separated from the current discussion. Here's more opinion/discussion (41 to be exact).

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb ... flat&order=ASC&type=&mode=0&start=0

Anyway, one more Packard is partially preserved. Unlike most on this website it is a "static indoor exhibit" and not a "rolling restoration."

I'll try to add a before picture here.

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Here' are more "before" pictures, about 60 in all. Also the museum's 42 Plymouth. These vehicles were used as cars, trucks, delivery, whatever was needed.

flickr.com/photos/atomicmuseum/sets/72157606676076053/

DanL

According to the Museum's website, they only had one blurry photo of the car, taken from a distance. I agree, that the woodgrain dash and window surrounds should be like every other Packard off the line.

This is the only "original" photo of the car, and in my opinion doesn't even look like a Packard.

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Don't believe those are the same cars. The "original" looks more like a GM product. Look at the front fenders and the way they sweep in to the body and the trunk area for comparison. Also look at the stuff "hanging" below the orignal--maybe a running board of some kind.

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Dan
You might want to inform your museum friend that the black and white photo that they believe to be a Packard, is NOT a Packard.

The "stuff" hanging from the bottom of the chassis is a frame stiffner probably made from a 1/2" steel rod and some 1/4" steel plate. I've seen that a lot in racing, and it makes sense that they added to such a long-stretched car.

Wonder why the GM stretch needed the frame stiffener and the Packard apparently did not--or it it just better hidden on the Packard.

Gerd, my idea of the frame stiffener comes from my studying vintage racing cars, and what they did. To me, it looks like the same thing as on this Miller 122: (Pay no attention to the name on the side of the car, I have NO intention of doing that on mine, but I do like the color!)

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