(Model Body Number, not Chassis)

(####-#### Format)

1950

23rd

2362-5

2301

Deluxe Eight Touring Sedan

2362-21959

*MISSING*

*MISSING*

Current Owner

Las Vegas, NV

Average

Fred Puhn

National City, CA

Show Ready

Maumy Maize Top, Packard Blue Bottom

Original striped fabric with huge rips in front seat and small rips in rear. I put a NOS set of vintage seat covers on it for the time being. However most people love the seat covers because the color is right, so I may leave them alone. I replaced the carpets, headliner, windlace, sunvisors, and door panels with very close to original materials.

Bare metal repaint in 2013 using Packard colors. 2-tone scheme per Series 23 publicity photos. Straight body with very minor repairs during repaint. Rechromed most of the trim.

288 (8 Cyl, 135 Hp)

H264097

Ultramatic

Automatic transmission, oil bath air cleaner, underhood light, backup light, yellow fog lights, center antenna, radio, heater, trunk light, vanity mirror, seat covers, large bumper guards (not installed), chrome exhaust tip, wide whitewall tires, wire wheels (new reproductions) and new Diamond Back wide whitewall radial tires. It has "Packard' rubber floor mats and chrome curb feelers.

I bought this car April 24, 29 from an Ebay ad. I was impressed with the adwhich statedthat this car had the 327 engine and also was a "running, driving, and roadworthy" Packard. He also stated it had recent brake and exhaust work. The Ebay photos all showed a nice car. I talked to theseller and he told me all this and more. I hit the "Buy it Now" button and paid to
dollar for what I thought was a car I could enjoy and not work on for a while. What a scam! It had a 288 engine, not a 327. When I got the car it could not be driven because it had NO brakes. The exhaust was totally blown out and the muffler was crushed. Some frayed wiring under the dash was dangling and sparking. All the bad spots on the car (large holes in the seats, bubbling and pitted chrome, crumbling wiring insulation, etc.) were somehow missing from the photos. After spending several weeks finally getting a title (in another person's name),replacing the master cylinder, and other things to make it legal and "roadworthy"I got to drive it for the first time. I took it to a show 25 miles away and it ran so poorly that I had to take a taxi home. It stopped runningby coincidence at my mechanic's shop. He checked it and found low compression and a rough running engine. After we pulled the head we found the engine needed major work. I asked the seller for compensation for the false ad statements and he sent me a profane email, I guess figuring it was my fault he lied in his ad. Then I applied for the Ebay buyer protection for hidden engine damage and false advertising. Ebay said the 3 day deadline had expired, even though I could not have driven the car any earlier. Ebay is a ripoff too, as their buyer protection is essentially worthless. All I can do is warn future Packard buyers to beware a scam artist who usedthe handle "ironofdetroit" and who used the name "Jim H. Miller" on my sale correspondence. The title and a check for shippingreimbursement he sentwere in someone else's name however. (Also another buyer told me he used a different name but the same handlein his sale). I found he had two other unhappy buyers on vehicles. After I reported him to Ebay he disappeared from Ebay, maybe to hideand maybe he was terminated. He could reappear under a different name or handleso beware! Watch for car sellers from Las Vegas. Do not assume the Ebay buyer protection will be of any use, because their deadline is so short you are lucky if you even see the car before the deadline. The scam artist can easily delay you until the 3 days expires, as happened to me (wait for payment, delay the shipping, send the title very late, and shi
a car that cannot be driven).


I completed a ring and valve job and replaced the entire exhaust system. If I had another month I would bore the block. I drove it and it ran fine, but blew a water pump
seal. I replaced the pump
with a new one along with front motor mounts. Then I took it to a brake sho
and replaced the soaked linings and leaking wheel cylinders. I replaced everything in the ignition system. Then the slipping transmission got worse so it was overhauled. I replaced the tires with proper size taller radial tires. The wire wheels are pretty but did not fit a 23 series unless you use spacers as this idiot did. I replaced the wheels with repro Packard wheels. I pulled the fuel tank and replaced the sending unit.


pThe engine had been worked on recently, had no sludge, and the worst problem was exhaust valves not seating due to no lash. Block bore taper was maximum .1 on a standard bore size. This is the wear limit for a ring job according to Packard literature. I added some NOS correct Packard accessories like the small Packard fog lights, backu
light, and engine compartment light.



pI fixed the rear end. All the suspension bushings were failing and the u-bolts were bad. After repair the car tracked straighter. Then the growl and clunk from the rear axle were fixed by replacing every moving part in the rear end with NOS. The old ring gear had half a tooth broken off, and the jerk polished the rough edges off and put it back together broken (seems like the work of the scam artist who sold me the car). Now the car runs quiet and the brakes are smooth. I took the car to the front end sho
and had the worn parts replaced and aligned. I found close to original fabrics and had the carpets, headliner, windlace, sunvisors and door panels restored.



pThe battery died and I found a short in the wiring harness. The crumbling insulation required replacement of the entire harness. I got a new repro vintage Delco battery and ordered an original repro harness from Rhode Island Wiring. While apart the dash panel got new woodgrain. The starter and generator were restored. I installed the NOS backu
light, underhood light, and fog lights during the rewiring project and replaced the roof antenna with a restored one. Ibought a restored radio and put in it. I have collected some more period accessories, factory literature, and a restored jack and complete tool kit. I could not get the generator to kee
u
with the accessories so I bought a 'genernator' (the generator is correct and totally restored with an alternator inside). I installed an auxiliary electric fuel pum
to fix vapor lock and added an electric fan in front of the radiator.


p
In 213 the car got a bare metalpaint job, allchrome work,new side glass, new rubber doorseals, andsome small repairs. Inow have over $55, in the car! It drives nice however and people really like the looks. I won a best of showtrophy at a local show. I drive it each weekend to a show or tour.

The car came with wire wheels, which are newer than 1950. I was told they were from a Caribbean, but like on many other things the seller lied. Theywere actually from an early 50's Cadillac. The bolt pattern is the same but they do not fit unless you use spacers, so they were replaced with the aftermarket repro Packard wire wheels. The tires were low profile radials that were too small for the car. They were replaced with correct diameter narrow tires per original.I added a Stewart Warner 'wings' temp gage and oil pressure gage under the dash. I put in a kill switch. The car came with a remote power brake booster from a 50's vintageT-bird and it works well. The carnow hasa Gener-Nator and an electric cooling fan so it can stay cool in parades.