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

Guys (and Gals), I've just seen one of the most unusual and stunning prewar Packard customs! Forgive me for being too lazy at the moment to compose text and add photos here, I'll get to at some point, but if you've got time go over to PAC's forum and take a look.


packardclub.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=767&p=3231#p3231

Dave, Beautiful car!

bump. Just wanted to keep this in the top 10 for a bit longer so anyone who might appreciate this car had a chance to see it. Follow the link above to more information and more detailed photos.

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The silence is deafening on this one, Dave... and Dave. Perhaps the rest of us had the same mother that said, "if you can't say something nice...."

It might be the frightfully awful choice in color, though. I remember seeing this car for the first time some 30 years ago when it was first finished, and couldn't bring myself to get near it. I think if it were painted a dark color it would look much, much better. That grille, though, looks like an Ertl version seen on lousy diecasts at the dime store.

In fact, if I read Ralph's face correctly here, he's thinking, "I gotta change that gawdawful color before anyone takes any pictures of it."

(Sorry mom, I just couldn't hold back any longer.)

Appreciate your thoughts, West. What really caught my attention is that it's apparently an entirely from scratch (other than the frame/drivetrain) custom, probably a one-off, with just unique little fascinating features everywhere you look. I think of just the cost of making that huge aluminum cowl casting, not to mention every body panel.

As to colors, probably not my choices either. But I like the lines and am really awed by the detail features; many of the European dropheads have that heavy, overly teutonic style to them which this one for the most part avoids.

Anyone have the email for Peter Issler in Switzerland? I seem to have lost it and would like to communicate with him about the car.

Aside from the grille and the wheels, I think it probably is a fairly nice looking design. I hope Ralph paints it dark, single tone, or very, very subtle two-tone. The problem is that the paint colors chop it all up. It's hard to see the clean lines. Perhaps those heavy-looking headlights could be replaced with a much more dramatic, off the 1935 Packard shelf headlights, and remove those truck lights mounted to the front bumper brackets.

West, are you aware of any of the original history of this car?

I personally think it's perfect, just the way it is.

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Wasn't it written up in The Classic Car some 25-30 years ago? It was owned by someone in the Indianapolis area, if I remember correctly.

Thanks West, I've emailed Ralph and suspect he'll follow up with CCCA. Someone also responded to my request for Peter Issler's email and I've emailed him to see if he has any history, and where the Graber archives might reside, if they are still intact.

Anyone here know the whereabouts of the Graber archives?

PS - here's an enlargement of those little details I found so fascinating. Note how the initials for Werner Risch Zurich are worked into the fascia of the horn screen.

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