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

Hello all!

Recently purchased a 1940 110 model 1384. Know very little about it's history other than in was in Rogers (Sunbelt) Classic car museum in Las Vegas and auctioned of by Mecum from there.

It is a good, older restoration that I have been going through mechanically to make a fun cruiser.

The paint was advertised as "silver French blue" but that does not seem accurate. Appears to have been this color originally? Anyone recognize the color or the car and have anymore history?

Thanks!!

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Link to 1940 Paint Chips from the Literature and Manuals section.

Hello K.Mojo:

Welcome to the site and welcome to the land of Packard.

As Mal pointed out to you, Big Kev has scanned the 1940 paint chips for you. This site has a wealth of information - take some time and click around Model Info and Literature and Manuals.

Now to your question about the paint color. What you have is something Packard would never have produced. About the only color on that car even close to "French Blue" (paint scheme Z) is the side spear and the wheels. The rest of the body color is too pastel for anything done in 1940. As you review the paint chips note that the vast majority of the colors are dark, rich, tones and some are in metallic colors. That car would look entirely different in an OEM color.

Also, IIRC, 1940 models were never two-toned - only a solid color. Two-toning was done in 1941 and thereafter.

I agree. The factory colors were rather more "drab" if that is an appropriate term. Maybe "stately " 😁.

I will dig around some more for an original color inside. The trunk is this same color and has been for a long time. Where is a good spot to check that would have been factory finished in body color?

Looks like "Polaris Blue" from the 1953 chips, actually. I really enjoy the color, whatever it may be!

Dug around a bit more and found a grayish brown color. Actually, probably like this car that was posted on the site already. Blackhawk Gray perhaps?

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Blackhawk Gray perhaps?

Yes, I appears to be. The '38 Eight below is Blackhawk Gray for certain. Just the usual caution, cameras, film, scanners, display devices and the like don't always render colors accurately.

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most any paint supplier can duplicate the color with the equipment and technology these days

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb ... lat&order=ASC&type=&mode=0&start=60

See post 70. Here are some other 1940 colors on cars.

In 1971, a local restoration shop convinced me to paint the Duchess a color that approximates Cuban Tan (non-metallic) and then paint the spear and the center sections of the sidemount covers and wheels a dark metallic brown. So much like yours in blue. I thought it looked nice , too. This was a scheme popular in 20s and 30s Packards.

In a side note, Jim Hollingsworth, the authority on 1940 Packards, always maintained that no 1940 car should have a pinstripe, but when I got mine which was still in the original announcement Harbor Gray with red leather, and was sold on Announcement Day, it had a red pinstripe and in tiny letters the owner's initials on the back doors just below the windows. What Jim meant I have come to learn is that no 1940 left the factory with pin striping. This service in 1940 was performed by the dealership, in my case Earle C Anthony, SFO, so it's perfectly legit.

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What I most like about Blackhawk Gray (my paint was research by PPG's color lab from the original Ditzier formula) is the metallic highlights because the body has so many curves, and because, as a dark taupe metallic, it looks a lot different in different light. At night it looks dark chocolate, in bright sun, silver. And I think it looks super rich with antique red leather. But car exteriors and interiors are very subjective. And the only opportunity for most guys to have their way with design.

Here a magazine article featuring a French Blue Packard (again cautions on reproduction no being true to the original).

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K.mojo, your Packard may not have it's original color, but I would be happy to park either of my Packards next to yours anytime! Enjoy!!!

Thanks all for the replies! I'll get it by the paint shop soon so they can take a sample and get a bit for touch ups.

Joe, sweet looking convertible there. Hope mine is that nice one day. I'm pretty sure that is the color I'm seeing on the upper trunk shelf. Whoever painted mine at least did it in classy colors (well, to my eyes anyway!) so not to upset it is not factory.

Color can some times be a challenging part of an authentic restoration. My '68 fastback mustang is Diamond Blue. It is original and rare, but horrible looking on a sporty car. When it comes time for paint it will be going Brittany blue which is a way more palatable factory color. At least that is something that can be reversed in the future.

Once again, thanks and will be posting more as I dig into my first Packard. Always wanted one since I was a kid and now get to fill that void.