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

Hello,
I need a little help narrowing down which model this Packard is. Also is there anyway of tracking the history on this car to know if it was owned by someone famous?
Thanks in advance, as I am a newbie

1929 Packard Convertible
Wheel base is approx 142 inches

Number on Firewall
032368

Vehicle Number on Tag
258398

Delivered
06-08-1929

By Packard Motors Inc.

Have you referred to the 1929 Model Year information in the Packard Model Info section here on PackardInfo?

Concerning prior owners, unless that information came with the car when you bought it, probably very difficult to find. Best chance might be the roster keepers for the year/model concerned with the major Packard clubs, PAC or PI, if the car has ever been on their books. Or tracing back by contacting the prior owner, then to the owner before that, etc. Good Luck in your search.

I tried that but do not know what series it is? The previous owner has been deported from the USA.
Thanks

Now that is a bummer!

What about information on the public record relating to his deportation? May give details of the prior owner, who he bought the car from?

<p>Here is a picture of it, hope the upload works<br />I am going to try to get full DMV records history search print out through a friend at the P.D.</p>

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The grille and headlights ( hard to see detail) appear ot be 6th series, 1929. The cowl lights which are on this car were 1929 only. The radiator ornament is an aftermarket non-original item. Bumper is incorrect


The wheels are incorrect, smaller than original and have large hubs with large caps. Original wheelsw had small aluminum screw on caps with red hex in center.

Front fenders look sort of right, but the space underneath where the wheel is seems too big. Maybe small wheels??

Front opening door is not on any original factory bodied cars. This MAY be a custom body, but I'm betting it is a body from another car or perhaps a modern rebody.

Something/everything looks wrong with this car. Would like to see rear and side shots. If it's a cobbled together car it's not worth "Packard money" Maybe $20,000 to drive around and look cool.

On further inspection:

Wheelbase of 140 = model 640
Wheelbase of 145 = model 645

Plain inside of door says for sure it's a modern rebody, I suspect South America.

If someone has an open 640 or 645 body, great chassis/hood etc.

I know there are alot of things on this car that are wrong but not sure which ones. Thanks for letting me know. I will add more pics so you can tell me what you see wrong. Its really apprieciated as I have no idea, Its a shame that it has a Chevy motor/trans and different rear end?also :(. The dash is not right either and the guages are aftermarket vdo :(<br />I am not sure about south america body, I did notice the door hinges are welded on instead of screwed on :?( again more bad news. I am just not sure if the old owner had them made them open in the wrong direction. I will post more pictures in the a.m.

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<p>one more pic for tonight</p>

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Hi REPOSSU

Fred Kanter has named it correctly, it's a cobbled together car on a '29 640 chassis. Examining the photos, one can see the radiator looks original but little else.

The wheels are smaller and later, perhaps '32-'34, the headlights look to be Willys-Knight. The fenderlamps are late '30's something. The hood has been lengthened, note the raised side panels on which the hood doors should be is missing. The front fenders have been lengthened and are a real hack job, compare the shape of those to pictures of restored 640's on here.

I doubt if that is a Packard factory body but haven't been able to identify what make it's from. It is definitely a chopped off coupe, note the crude shaping on the forward door sill that shows where that work was done. If you find welding on the body, which would be metal over an ash wood frame, that's a tell-tale this is a cobbled job.

While the chassis may be largely '29 Custom Eight 640, I'd be VERY careful to check out all the components to be sure what they are. I'd proceed extremely carefully and verify what it is before making any deal to buy it.

If this car was an export car originally, it's 'restoration' offshore was done with the objective reselling it for as much money as possible to an unknowledgeable collector. Do yourself a favorite, avoid being the next sucker.

If you can get clearer pictures, we'll all do our best to identify what exactly that poor Packard is.

Steve

Might be a good chassis to restore correctly then rebody to one of the lost period full custom body designs.