Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

On my '52 Packard 200 Deluxe, the chrome rear bumper and the front chrome signal lamp holder piece both have really pitted Korean War chrome finishes that have not withstood time very well.

I can't afford to consider having the piyts filled and the pieces re-chromed. Besides, the rear bumper also has some dents in its underside where the car was evidently at one or more points in its history pulled out of mud via a bumper hook.

As I thought about it, I started to wonder:

1. What would the car look like withOUT that rear bumper at all? I think maybe REALLY GOOD!

2. What would the front end look like if (only) that chrome piece that holds the signal lamps were to be smoothed and painted to match the body color (black)? Agaiin, just trying to stand in front of the car and visualize it, it SEEMED like it might look terrific.

Can someone out there who is skilled with photo editing software possibly rework the 3 photos I have attached to reflect these 2 changes?

Jim G

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A very crude attempt at the back. Others with a little talent can surely do better.

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Like this?:rides.webshots.com/photo/1332509471064371389THrbTs

HH56: YES!! THAT is the look. I love it. The bolts that hold the bumper and its supports to the frame are all under the car, and I THINK the sheet metal screws that hold the bumper gravel shield are all hidden under the rear trunk bodywork, so this SHOULD be as easy as:

1. Remove bumper with its supports from the frame of the car

2. Remove the gravel shield by removing the sheet metal screws that come into it from under the trunk

3. Mount a license plate bracket with built-in lamp or LED to light it, and mount the license plate to the bracket

TurboPackman: Clsoe but not quite correct. First, this particular car also changed the chrom piece above and around the signal lamps to body color. I want to keep that piece chrome, along with the bumper. ONLY the chrome piece onto which the signal lamps are mounted should be body colored. Secondly, the fact that the body color on your sample car is NOT black craetes an entirely different look. I want that central chrome piece to blend into the "black" radiator area, so that attention is focused on the upper chrome piece that follows the hood line. THAT is a Packard trademark I don't want to lose, and want to HIGHLIGHT.

Jim G

Hmm?

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A few front variations--some less ugly than the others. Original in the center, so I'm not sure that Packard didn't have the right idea in the first place.

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I vote for the top middle one.

Yes, I also really like that top middle one, and that is the one that I had had in mind when I posted this thread.

I think I am going to do it, along with the rear bumper removal!

Jim G

Only thing I hope you do in the rear is add something between the frame rails to have a little more than sheet metal between the gas tank and the person behind you that didn't stop in time.

HH56: That is a very good suggestion, and pretty easy to do too. It could be under the body and behind the tank and simply be painted black, OR if I get the right idea, maybe some sort of "nerf bar" setup.

I can't believe how clean that rear end looks in the photoshop image above, after the big bumper is removed.

Jim G