Packard Forum Index » Modification Discussion

Please don't burn me at the stake just yet.

After years of looking at the packard plant, I have had another bad idea that just might work. I am thinking of building a clone of a (probably)1930's packard 120. The plan is to use the original dimensions, body design and interior style but recreate them using all lightweight modern materials. The reason is to created the most overstated electric car possible.

I suppose some questions are in order.

can it be done?
can it be done at home?
am I guano loco? (yes)
would it be worth making this monster a convertable?
does anyone have or know someone who has a 30's packard near detroit that might let me make molds of body pannels?

You mean it would be a more overstated electric car than this?

Attach file:

---

  (32.15 KB)

Hell i'd rather start with an abandoned 30's Packard than scratch, especially working with hand tools.

Make it a hybrid, get some kind of diesel 4 cyl motor hooked to a generator, to a bank of batteries, then to the electric motor.

You'll need tons of batteries, most efficient per pound would be putting a ton of laptop batteries in a bank.

Then you need a control system to decide if you need the charging generator running or not.

This seems like a lot of work

tooling cost? DOT compliance?

i'm sure it will cost a ton and take me a few years to get it together, particularly with my inability to work on less than 12 things at once.

I dont think you would save any significant weight by going to fibreglass panels and new powertrain. New cars are heavier than you might think, and old cars are lighter than they look.

A 1937 six cylinder 110 weighs 3140 to3310 depending on body style. The 120, about 200 lbs more.

You could probably take nearly 1000 pounds out of the 110 by discarding the original engine, transmission, clutch radiator and driveshaft. More for the 12O

Compare this to such modern "lightweights" as Toyota Corolla, 2700 to 3000 lbs depending on model, or Toyota Avalon at 3700.

The Packard has the additional advantage that it needs no power steering, no power brakes, no air conditioning, climate control or even heater.No automatic transmission.

These power sapping accessories are murder to adapt to an electric car.

The one advantage the new cars have is that they slip through the air with better streamlining. But if we are talking about a car that will do all its driving on city or suburban streets and never go over 5O this is a meaningless advantage.

In other words, I would way rather adapt a mid 30s Packard to electric, than any comparable modern car. It would be far easier and far better.