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

What is the material used on top of the roof on my 38 Super 8 1603. Is it vinyl? I need to replace it and need to know what I am asking for. Thanks

Pierre Lemieux

Not vinyl, vinyl was a post-WW II development. It's a rubberized cloth material and still available as the original type material in several styles and patterns from places like Restoration Specialties or Restoration Supply.

IIRC the trade name or popular reference for the top insert was Rubberoid. Maybe do a google search on that name.

I'm not sure who the current sources are, but they are definitely out there. Hirsch? Lebaron Bonney? I seem to recall it being referred to as "long grain vinyl" available in only 2 or maybe 3 different grain patterns. Common, if not universal, amongst most cars up to 39ish.

Found two styles (long and short grain) on page 105 of Restoration Supply Co's catalog. It's an older catalog, may be on a different page of the current catalog. The long grain material is a match for the original material on my 34 Eight sedan.

I have the catalog and see what you talking about. So do you think the long grain is correct for my 38 1603??

Wish I could say for sure, but I can't. Only conclusive way to know is to check against an original car but with them dissappearing so rapidly in favor of restorations, that's going to be difficult. Isn't there even a fragment or your original to check against? If not, knowing that Packard generally changed things rather slowly, I'd say there was a good chance they were using the same type material in 1938 as they used in 1934, but that's just an assumption.