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Here's it is on the cover of a Michigan Region CCCA magazine. I'm pretty sure the late Paul Clancey of MI owned it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-5-1979-Torque-Magazine-Michigan-Classic-Car-Club-of-America-CCCA-/122226037873?hash=item1c753d5471:g:fkYAAOSwQoFWPhd7

Well, I was thinking it might go for north of $70K; it apparently came close at $67,300. What a great car, the only thing that would concern me if I wanted it as a driver is the mileage; 86,000 is pretty high for engines of that era and a good rebuild of a Twelve can go for $40,000 or more.

Dave (O_D), your estimate has been a good indication.

Actually that car got a high speed axle ratio decades ago so the motor is probably very good. The only down side to that thing is it's a Michigan car so the suspension is probably shot. Even ten years ago the roads in this state sucked. I wouldn't drive that car or any Packard in Michigan. They'd rather poison the water supply than maintain the roads.

It is almost impossible for me to look my fill. Here comes a question for Todd (tolandis), BDC, John (JMc) or someone else who owns such a beautiful car. The roof is short. Which kind of opening mechanism is installed? Would you be so kind to expand on its suitability for daily use?



image source: eBay, item number 142181146901

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Gerd,

No opening mechanism, the roof has a fixed weatherproof fabric insert, a common feature of Packard Coupes and Sedans of that era. It took a few more years before Packard went to full metal roofs for both Coupes and Sedans.

Good evening all, just checking back in for the first time after a month in beautiful Vietnam.

As Mal writes, I can confirm that the soft roof insert is sealed on mine. My understanding is that the closed roof shapes exceeded the combined capacities of the presses and steel of the era to reliably press the roof curves necessary. I believe that later advances in metallurgical science and engineering would overcome these limitations. I'm sure other readers know more about this.

The insert in my '35 is still watertight and in good condition. It appears to be a thickly coated fabric. I've just left mine intact for now.

The rear window does open. It winds down; the mechanism is actuated by a chromed window winder.

Cheers, John

PS: After a long wet spring, summer has finally arrived in Tasmania, and I hope to roll my coupe out of the shed in January for the first time in 24 years to pressure clean the cooling system and some other components. I'll post pics if it happens.

Mal & John, thank you. Budd invented the all-steel body in the 1920s. That is why I thought, the hole on top of 1930s cars was an European speciality.


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John (JMc), absolutely right. The explanation of the term -> "turret top" provides a deeper understanding.

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Gusha, the 1939 Twelve and the 1938 Super 8 were the last Packards with wood frame and steel skin construction, the junior cars were all steel before this. Though the availability of suitable steel and presses to make one-piece roof stampings has come up before, another consideration would be economic; the 2/4 passenger coupe body was used by both the Super Eight and Twelve in 1938, and just the Twelve in 1939 and in total only 66 are believed to have been built. One could never justify the cost of stamping dies for a production run of only 66 cars.

For the 1935 model year General Motors announced the first mass production all steel roof which they called the Turret Top. Soon all others followed suit.