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Thanks!
I feel better. My one active brain cell was worried about expiration. It's already quite lonely.

Some figures on 48 - 50 wheelbases. Standard chassis is 120 inch wb. Custom 127 inch wb, 7 inches added from firewall foreward. Seven passenger 141 inch wb, add 21 inches to rear passenger compartment to the standard chassis. This was added from the middle of the rear door back to the wheel opening. Custom limo 148 inch wb , add 21 inches to the Custom chassis. Just my comparison of the 3 different models we own.

Back to the two 1947 Derham Convertible Sedans.

I have reviewed the Derham archives, maintained by the CCCA library in Hickory Corners, MI. Attached are top-down/top-up photographs of the car built for the Sheikh of Kuwait. This is the car described in the coachbuilt.com web content. That content is wrong in one regard. It refers to this as red, when in fact when completed it was Plymouth Gun Metal Grey. According to the archives, the Sheikh had selected a Hudson Copper Red, but later changed it to Grey, with red leather interior. Other modifications included a siren and flashing light, that is barely visible above the front bumper, and flaring of the rear fenders and an increased trunk. The latter was to increase the length to 21 feet 6 inches. This car was ordered by Gulf Oil Corporation as a gift for the sheikh. In the first correspondence Gulf Oil asked for either a Packard or Cadillac 7 passenger chassis.

As regards the other 1947 Derham Convertible Sedan, it was built for the Packard Export Corporation, for delivery to Lebanon or Syria. I have not yet identified who the final customer was. It sported a "telephone" in the front and rear compartments.

Both of these cars started as stock 148 inch wheelbase 7-passenger sedans, and had partitions installed.

These cars are of particular interest to me, as I am converting one of my 47's to an improved (modern) "sheikh car". Does anyone have any engineering for the convertible top?

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Don, thanks for the interesting history, some of it was previously unknown to me. I did receive your SASE and as soon as I can I'll dig out and photocopy the article we discussed on these cars.

Your picture above is one of those used in that article, but there are others as well.

G'day Don Skotty,

See you have a number of Packards in the garage - "1939 Twelve 1707 1233 5 pass Tourer, 1939 Twelve 1708 1234 7 pass Tourer, 1942 Super 8 180 Formal Sedan, 1947 Custom Super Clipper 2126, 2150 Custom Convertible Sedan, 1947 Custom Super Clipper 2126 2151, 1946 Custom Super Clipper Sedan". I invite you to include them in PackardInfo's Owner Registry together with pic's, any known history and how you acquired them.

My pdf contains 2 photo's of the Sheikh's packard. Try clicking quickly between page 1 and page 2 and vice versa.

I will post the photo's of the other 47 Derham, and get my Packards into the owners registry. Thanks for your comments.

Quote:
Don,
in anticipation, I'll look forward to seeing your Packards in the Registry.

Don: To get a length of 21'6" Derham did more than just increase flaring the rear fenders and increasing the trunk area. Derham extended the front bumper brackets and splash pan by three inches. The rear bumper brackets and splash pan was also increased by three inches.

The car was delivered to Gulf Oil on December 17, 1947. The Packard was never delivered to Kuwait because Gulf Oil never got the contract they were seeking from the Shiek. Gulf Oil kept the car which still exists today.

Derham charged Gulf Oil $8,700.00 for the conversion. The delivery price of the seven passenger sedan from Packard was $ 4,504.00 with excise tax of $ 609.00 bringing the total cost to $ 13,813.00.

John F. Shireman

Don: Now concerning the other conversion done by Derham.

The car was order by the President of Lebanon in a letter dated December 27, 1946.. The Packard was shipped to Derham on February 25, 1947 and completed and delivered on September 10, 1947.

The car was painted black and had a light tan top. The drivers compartment was done in black leather, while the passengers compartment was done in brown cloth.

Derham charged $ 5,580.00 to do the conversion.

I hope this information helps you concerning both cars in question.

John F. Shireman

John,

Thanks so much for the information on both the Derham convertibles. Do you know where the Gulf Oil Derham is?