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

It pains me to say I am not going to have my 1940 Club Coupe ready for The Great Race in 2025. I have alternatives to use for a vehicle. Either a 1969 or 1970 Mercury Cougar Eliminators. 1968 Mercury Colony Park station wagon. 1964 Mercury Marauder. 1968 Mercury Monterey convertible. 1958 Mercury Monterey.
However--------I have my mind set on using a Packard. As much as I love the 56. The car I want to use for Great Race I would like no newer than 1940. No older than 1930. Even 30 might be a bit much to deal with.
About scoring in the Great Race, cars 1953 and down have a handicap type of scoring benefit. The older the better. A group that often wins is running a 1917 Hudson. While an open air car would be nice for a sunny day. Maybe not so nice for 10 days in all weather.
Looking at FB Marketplace and Craigslist, classifieds here and FB groups, I've found a few cars. I'd like to stay under 10 grand. As a back-up car the cheaper the better. Doesn't need to look good. Prefer solid and functional. Paint can be faded with surface rust----I kinda like that weathered barn-find look.
For example, two cars I was looking at are both sedans. One is a 1935 and the other is a 1938. They are probably both 282. Other than aesthetics, would the 38 be preferred over a 35 for any mechanical reasons?
Let me know your thoughts on this era car. Also, let me know if you know of an appropriate one for sale.

thanks,
Mark

If the 1935 is a 120 and still has the original motor, it would be a 257, not a 282.

Others may wish to respond in detail but note there were many mechanical refinements made to the 120 for 1938.

big chance the 35 has a 4.54 rear end. You understand that issue. The 38 will probably have a 4.36, same issue that resulted in your buying the 40.
I have a friend who did the great race in a 51 Packard sedan - thinking out loud, why not rent it from him...proven car, right year, and you can return it...shall I make inquiry?

Packard Rental, interesting idea.... Honestly, I would be too nervous driving someone else's car in an event like that. I'd be way more content in my own car. Plus, the 51 doesn't have much benefit for scoring factor.
The 38 I was looking at is between 6 and 7K. Kinda cheap, but it might need a lot. Runs and drives, but the guy that has it has only owned it for two weeks....a flipper. I asked if it would drive across the state, he doesn't know. He said he drove it around his town for 2 hours with no problems.....he might be leaving out a lot of info in hopes of a sale. I might go look at it this weekend.

By all means, look at it as nothing lost by doing so and everything gained if it is what you're looking for! Personally, and for my own tastes, I would probably prefer a 1939 or newer as I'm not too keen on the cane shifter of the earlier cars but the cane shifter certainly has less to go wrong or get out of adjustment.

I'd be afraid of a 6-7K flipper without seeing it myself. There was another guy I knew that did up a 36-120 Conv.Coupe for the race maybe 8-9 years ago...haven't heard from him since then, St.Louis area I think. Might track him down as car had bunch of race modifications, including my name painted on the trunklid for some unknown reason...so if you are able to access prior race data, might track that car down but unlikely in small dollar budget...

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If he is selling it after 2 weeks I would not take that claim at face value. Unless you can check it out and get a REALLY good idea of what is wrong with it and what it needs, it could easily turn into a bigger waste of time than it would take to finish your current build. Not like you can just rebuild an engine in a weekend if that's what it needs, or whatever.

For comparison, I have a friend with a 51 with 220k miles on it, engine was never rebuilt (he is working on it now). To start it required pouring oil down the intake to build compression and then waiting like a whole minute for the Ultramatic front pump to prime. Of course it burned oil like crazy too. And could not climb a hill. But it would "run and drive"...