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

I just purchased a 1937 120-C touring sedan from a club members widow. The car is in overall good shape. One thing I found interesting was that the front turn signals are incorporated into the headlights! Was this a common practice with all manufacturers or just Packard? I have never seen this before, however, this is the first pre-war car I have owned. Can we still buy replacements for those? The rear turn signals are two add on lights like they used to put on the trucks in the 40s and 50s. Just curious. I'm sure I will have more questions as work progresses. Thanks, Tracy.

Packard didn’t have turn signals in 1937 so possibly that was one owner’s way of adding them without adding hard to find fender lights.

I think someone doing this unusual placement in the headlight bucket using what I am assuming is the stock parking light socket location was mentioned on the forum once before and it may be the same car.

Packard turned the parking lights off as soon as headlights turned on so visibility was not an issue. I was curious then and still am as to whether the front turn signals will be very visible at night if lights are on. I would think trying to see them would risk looking directly at a bright light and with some states being really fussy about visibility, just wondering how the car compares to others where the turn signals were placed in separate modern motorcycle housings hanging below the headlight buckets or in the hard to find fender assys.

I would be interested to know if any automaker integrated turn signals directly into the headlights. As far as I know, such things indicate an aftermarket installation without a doubt.

There are fog lights as well. At first I thought they were the from turn signals, but after turning the signals on and discovering that they are inside of the headlights I discovered that the fog lights are not hooked up.

Restoration Supply was offering a Halogen Reflector Kit for both 6V and 12V. Maybe a previous owner used this set up. I think Big Kev was looking into these but found that they are no longer available. The following text is form their catalog:

Halogen Reflector Kits
Chrome plated brass and die stamped. Fitted with modern replaceable halogen high/low beam headlamps.
The “without turn signal” kits come with 2 reflectors with special sockets installed, 2 halogen bulbs, 2 electrical
connector plugs and 2 gaskets. The “with turn signals” kits come with the above, but also includes an installed
parking lamp dual-contact sockets and 2 replaceable dual-filament amber bulbs. These parking lights can also
support turn signal operation. Reflector diameters are measured across total width or widest part of flange.
Diameter is measured to the outside of the mounting flange.

At first I was thinking about wiring the turn signals into the fog lights. After careful consideration I don't think that would be a good idea.

G,day willits18,

PackardInfo's Packard Vehicle Registry would love to your '37 115C Touring Sedan to its pages!

I replaced the parking lights in my headlights with different sockets that turned them into turn signals.