New Project! 1935 Packard 3W Rumble Seat, Suicide Door Coupe! *Pics*

Hey,
I'm pretty close to striking up a deal for this 1935 Packard 3W Rumble Seat, Suicide Door Coupe (Whew! That's a sentence and a half! ), and just wanted to share with you guys and get your opinions on it. I'm sure some of you guys have started off with worse bodies, so hopefully it's not in too bad of shape to fix up. Along with the body/frame, I am also getting the entire front end off of the 1937 Packard 4-D Sedan in the other picture below the 35'.

This is the actual car itself:


And this is the donor car for the front grill, headlights and sheet metal:


Vudu on here did an EXCELLENT job photoshopping the car, so this is what I hope it turns out looking like:



I will be creating a project journal that I will be updating regularily so you can follow my progress.

Thanks for looking!

 

I do not mean to sound insensative or whatever ... but you know a guy with a bunch of 32 Fords and other great stuff and you are going to mess with this ???

1935 Packards are cool and all but DUDE ... this one is " kinda ruff "

 

Well, as much as I like Deuces, I've always wanted a 1935-1937 Packard Taildragger, and I couldn't really find anything in better shape within my price range ($3000 for this coupe).

BTW, the guy who has this car is the same guy with all of the deuces.

 

The Packard is cooler than any '32 Ford I've ever seen. I've seen enough Deuces, this is something new. Anyway, I think the car is very fixable, I'd try to get the whole 4 door parts car because I'm sure you'll need some stuff off of it.

As far as the photoshop goes, it looks good, but the small diameter wire wheels and the modernish paint look a little too streetroddy to me. I'd go with a solid color in enamel or laquer and some 16" steel wheels, artillery's or similar.

Really cool unusual body style, should get lots of attention.

 

STFU already!
i like it,and it'll drive the Packard guys nuts

 

One of my favorite 30's coupes, love that shape! Looking forward to seeing updates!

 

Got the makings of an absolutly stunning custom. Go for it, different is GOOD!

 

Thanks for all of the positive responses, guys!

I just spoke with the guy about the car, and he said that the car has no rust-through, which is excellent, but it looks (in the picture, anyway) that the bottom left corner of the door may need some patching up. But I don't think that should stop me from getting the car. He also told me that he has a really nice frame that will go with the car, so that is a plus.

I'm trying to sell my 1955 Belair (http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=125499) to get a head start on the build, so hopefully I can get that thing sold and start working on this one right away.

Anyways, the front end off of the donor car is $500, and for the entire car, he wants around $1100. Do you think it would be wise to spend the extra $600 and get the whole car?

Thanks again!

 

Not unless it has another $600 in parts you need for your coupe. Maybe it has a VIN plate and a ***le, which would tend to steer me towards buying it. Remember, you have to have room to store the parts-car until it's all used up. I personally don't have room to store parts cars.
I'd talk the guy into letting me rob all the stuff I needed from it and give him another $300...let him keep the hulk after I stripped my stuff off it.

 

That's true. The only thing I can really picture myself using (other than the front clip) would be maybe the fenders, dashboard and running boards (if they are the same). I don't think that the sedan doors are anything like the coupe ones, so I couldn't really use anything on them either.

Storage wouldn't be a problem, however.

 

I think it's ten times cooler than a Deuce. What kind of drivetrain are you planning on? I can't wait to see your progress.

 

agreed.. I have seen more 32 fords in my life than henry ford.. I like the fact your doing something different..

 

I love it, something different then the norm. Around here I know you would be the only one at any show/cruise that you went to!! Go for it

 

I really like the flames.
Let me go push my Mom in front of a bus, and then I'll be in touch about the Chevy.

 

Haha! Alright, sounds good.

 

Got to say that I agree with 1/2 of this statement. Cars are like women, I like/love most of them. Here is my take on this Packard. These autos were once the equivalent to a Rolls if not superior. Yes this car should be done up as a custom, but god forbid, nothing like that tangerine dream(nightmare)above, I know that it's sportin Parkard capped wire repops, but the whole package just doesn't jive with me
Do it up all ol school and you'll be happy , Throw a lil Bohman -Schwartz style & chop the top a "'s & it wil be al i can be, I'll add more in lil bit.
Kevin

 

Cool! I'm interested in hearing more on your take of the car!

 

BUY THIS CAR! Damn what a sweet ride this could be....Hope you get it...

 

Hell , thats cool , as the others have said about the ford take (sawzall , etc ), you will always have something thats gunna stand out ,and build it the way you want it......nice find.....look forward to the progress build

 

Thanks, man! I sent the guy an offer, so I'll have to see what he says. Cross your fingers!

Off topic, but I just saw that you are from Paducah. I may have to fly down there for wrestling, but I have no idea where to stay! Haha. Do you know of any good hotels in the Paducah, KY and/or Brookport, IL area?

Thanks!

 

If this is the same guy with a harem of 32's for sale, then why don't you post some pics of the 32's so we can add some smoke to the pipe dream?

 

I asked him to send me some, but he hasn't yet, so I'll have to check up on that. When I get them, though, I promise I'll post them.

 

That's a 120. Not a bad car to start with for what ya wanna do. I see pontoon fenders and no boards. I see fender skirts. I see a subtle chop of maybe 2" and not stretched, rather, the area behind the top filled in for balance. I see a rear mounted exposed spare tire in a metal cover. I see a dark color (Packard blue with a pearl?). The hoods on these cars were originally conceived by Alexis de Saknoffsky, a noted designer of the coach-built cars of the time. The design works well to add plenty of length. She was born to be a tail dragger. They just didn't know it. I don't recall on the 120s, but the "senior" series cars still had lots of wood in the doors. You'll enjoy the quality that's built in to that car even though it was Packard's 1st attempt at price point cars.

BTW...this was hard to type with my fingers crossed

 

here's what I would do, show up with a big truck and cash.. squeeze the guy for every penny of a discount you can get on both cars. take the parts you need from the sedan, take off what you don't need on the coupe and sell all that stuff piece by piece to recoup 1/2 your investment or more.

build it however you like. the photoshop pic looks a bit too "rick dore" for me, but it is still cool and i would take a picture of it at a show for sure... just not my color choice.. maybe a nice deep maroon with full hubcaps rather than wires

 

Is there any specific way that you can tell the difference between 120's, Standard 8's and Super 8's?

Thanks!

 

Alright! It's officially mine!

I picked up the Coupe and the entire front clip of the sedan for $3250, which is a pretty good deal, I think.

Man, am I ever excited!

 

110's and 120's were the junior series and were designed as cheaper line cars to pull Packard's *** out of the depression. From what I understand, they shared little or nothing other than maybe ******s and rear ends with the senior cars. They accounted for 80-90% of Packard's production and ensured the marque's survival. The stately front end is unmistakeably Packard even if the package is a little smaller.

That car will make a great taildragger. There's a green one running around Regina done street rod style, and it looks good too, but the style needs to be brought out as a 'dragger. Skirts and slammed is the way to go.

 

The 1st thing to check is the wheelbase. Should be 120". The Eight was 134", and the Super Eight was 142". That one should be body type, or number, 898. FWIW the 110 (115c) came out in 37. They had a 115" WB and a 6cyl engine. They do differ somewhat but I can't say for sure if the body parts interchange. They should with out too much aggrevation. The section of the front fender where it conatcts the running board differs slightly from the 35, perhaps better looking depending on opinion and taste. As I said above, you should enjoy the quality touches you'll find throughout the build and they'll no doubt inspire you as as the project moves along. I'd still ditch the running boards tho. I got to thinking about some late 30s big GM style headlights to take up some of the m***ive look of the front sheet metal. So many possibilities...good luck with it. if I find anything in my archives that will help you I'll send a PM.

 

screw the 32 ,go the packard ,32s are boring ,photocopy cars seen one youve seen em all ,i see a lot of 32s over here in oz and each one is better than the last but they still all look the same,go hard ,go packard!!!!

 

2 ?'s////first , you are a pro wrestler or regular wrestling??just wondering..and 2..if you went there to get this car , you didnt take any pics of the field of dreams???i think you need to prove everyone wrong about the 32's!! not me..i like 30/31's better!! cause i cant afford a 32

and finally.....nice find man!! congrads.....