Death Valley relic, can someone ID the car?

Hello,

It was suggested by one of the hot rod builders from the Hemming's forum forum, that all y'all might be able to give me a clue as to what make and
possibly year this is.

http://www.rainbowind-photoart.com/Other/rainbowind-photoart/12350552_xwrjf#966892678_nTCMX-A-LB

It's a four door suicide build, It's buried in a flood wash, there are
no plates on the visible surfaces except that a number is stamped into
the firewall on the drivers side.

The number is just below the drivers window below the short cowl, it
reads: <439354> or <439Z54> , including the little arrows
also stamped at either end.

I'm just trying to archive the car and really appreciate any help on this.

The DV Historic Society has a booklet with images of about 30 or so vehicles out and about the region but no makes or models.

Thanks in advance,

Rob Manning
Malibu, CA

 

i have no idea, but it is obvious it's been there a long time.

 

looks like it will buff out ok

 

I'd like to try to straighten the sheetmetal.

 

That is funny!

 

You guys are a riot!

I've a similar sense of priority, in hoping the head liner was intact.

 

when in dought yell Studabaker

 

Drop a new battery in it and pour some gas down the carb. It should fire up. Check the air pressure in the tires though.

 

1934 Prius? No?

 

looks like she is a 39 dodge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge

do i win the grand prize.

 

Almost100% positive its a 1940 packard.

 

Give it to Jim Sibley!!!

 

I don't know. Look at the windshield, did it have a divider or is it just smashed too bad to tell. Lippy

 

Looks like a 41 Packard 160, according to a story on Hemmings:

http://clubs.hemmings.com/clubsites/minnesotapackards/newsletter.html

Pic:

 

Rob, the book that was put out thats still in print is ***led "Motor Vehicels in the Death Valley Region" by Kenneth Lengner and Danny Ray Thomas. Ken I know personally and got a copy of the book from him.It basicly covers early vehicels that 1st came into the region in place of horses/mules. One thing thats covered pretty well in it was the testing of early Franklin air cooled cars in Death Valley. I don't know about the area you live i but there's a lot of cars/truck buried in washs out here. Years ago that was what a lot of Ranchers and believe it or not he BLM did to help flood control. I got yelled at by a BLM officer once in northern NV for taking some chrome off of a 62 Ford pickup because the BLM placed it there with several other vehicels years before.

Michael

 

Michael thanks for that.

I've been a few days offline and just now catching up.

That's very interesting about flood control.

I am a Death Vally junkie so anything new is cool to digest.

I saw the book, loaned to me and I returned it before leaving in the bloom April visit.

I'll study the suggested posts above and thanks again.

Rob

 

ran when parked.
runs as good as it looks
needs minor work to p*** inspection

 

Same beads but the recess is different as is the shape of the cowl right where the guy is buffing. Maybe it's just a diferent model or year.

 

Tech tip: When chopping or sectioning a car, level it and bury in a floodwash. The flood will deposit material giving you a straight, even, and level cut line all the way around with no need to measure or waste masking tape!

 

Don't know if I am seeing it correctly. Appears to me to be a dual cowl vent car but then again it also looks like an area that the hood covers.

 

Aint nothing wrong a little money wont fix, duct tape a wire ties. Spike

 

Henry, thanks for that.

I spent an hour looking at previous images from that wash.

The vehicle has no where to attach chrome onto the door panels, where the (rounded) shape is beneath the windows. In your image, is that chrome or reflected light? If it's stamped or rolled steel then the search is narrowed.

The vehicle does has extended leaf hinges like the picture, on the rear doors, and not seen from this shot is the trunk lid which has surface mounted hinges.

Does your Packard have surface mount hinges?

I'd post up other images if need be.

Is there an archive that refers to the number stamped onto the firewall, does Blue Book etc?

Thanks for the help!!!

(After posting the above) I've looked at the Packards from 38, 39 and I believe you win the prize if I can come up with one.

The serial number leads me to ***ign this to April, 1939 (439 being the first few numbers) and as such that would follow guitars and stuff like that being stamped for production runs, also, there is a seam which is on top of the car at the front window area, and that seems emblematic to the ones online for split windshield.

Nope, I think I can name the image now thanks to you and your HAMB brethren and sisteren.

Thanks,

Rob

Rob

 

If that'd been a 32 Ford that you found, it be packed outta there before sundown.

 

There is another vehicle on it's side, a 49 Ford pickup, all that's visible is the top of the cab, and into the 6 inches of exposed window and most folks who know about the car, have no idea about the pick up, covered over completely, on it's side.

Bring a pick and shovel, and meet us there around New Year's 2011, I'll watch for the Ranger and you dig,.

Thanks for the fun stuff.

Rob

 

looks like 30s gm you say 39 looks like a 39 chevy

 

Mid 30s Shottohell with optional ch***is delete?

 

If ya read the text that goes with the story - it is identified as a 39 Packard.