1939 Packard Custom
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September 4, 2019 at 07:31 #65126Quentin HallParticipantSeptember 4, 2019 at 07:32 #65127Quentin HallParticipant
So a couple of weeks ago I answered an ad for a 39 Packard 120 sedan. Rotten body but all the rest was there. I need a gearbox for the Packard 6 engine for the Model A speedster. So I rang the guy and asked if he’d separate the box. No!
So I made an offer on the box and forgot it.
He texted last week to say that the box was mine…. but so was the rest of the car. What’s a boy to do?
I spoke to my therapist Dr R Hoving and after much counselling I’m feeling better knowing there is only one right thing to do.
So I passed on it.
Haha …. Build another Custom!!!!
September 4, 2019 at 07:40 #65128Mild MitchParticipantYeah! do it.
When my friends wife asked, “How many cars do really need?”
The answer, JUST ONE MORE.
(Always one more)
Mitch
September 5, 2019 at 09:21 #65137Rik HovingKeymasterHere are some photos of the actual project car that Quentin will be getting…
Its clear this will be a perfect long-term therapy project.
After Quentin had spend some time on the bench and spoke about his fears and dreams… we came up with this initial plan for the future practical therapy session. Of course the plan can and will change over time, depending on how Quentin will respond to the therapy.
This doctor/client confidential information has been shared with mutual consent.
Enjoy the beauty of Customizing
September 5, 2019 at 10:41 #65138TinwolfParticipantIs there any room for group therapy ? When Doctor photoshop is in full swing could we see a non dipped (top door edge) version and possibly no outside hinges where the door could possibly be built with those Graham pantograph door hinges I remember Quentin is fond of : Here
sorry , a 2minute hack job …
I know wrong order of buying part (as most of my parts I find) , still THESE gems would help the project forward 🙂
Wolf
September 5, 2019 at 11:23 #65139Quentin HallParticipantI have a mate with a restored 39 Packard 8 coupe. So I rang him and told him to keep me in the loop for bits . He said he had a spare grille. I asked how much. He said “Free.” Wow! He said he has a good network of Packard friends as well.
Move been collecting heaps of other cool bits for the hotrods and recently found some big nice late thirties torpedo headlights and a streamlined radiator cap in lieu of the Lalique Goddess or huge Pelican that everyone puts on their Darrins…. which by the way “Dutch” Darrin loathed. Got nice caps and trim rings. The list goes on.
Already Rik’s rendering paves the way for a much more streamlined cohesive design. I’ll probably rebuild  the body from the cowl back from scratch. The cowls has n the Darrins were cast aluminium by Rudy Stoessel who went on to form Coachcraft.
September 5, 2019 at 12:00 #65140TonyParticipantI’m glad someone else has a piece of shit to start with 🙂
But more importantly…it’s a complete piece of shit.
September 5, 2019 at 12:22 #65141Quentin HallParticipantThat’s  “the beauty of customising” Tony. Body wise I really just need the fenders, radiator and some of the cowl. I’ll fabricate new floors. Driveline and chassis are all there. I have a rebuilt engine sitting in the rack. Once the rotted body is gone it’s a clean slate. Apparently the gearboxes are unbreakable.
Hey Wolf!! I’d forgotten about pantograph doors ! But they will lend themselves perfectly to this project. I’m making some architectural doors for a residence soon with big hinge pins …. so there will be some offcuts for sure.
I’ve just been looking at my mate’s one off 37  Bugatti and got lots good of ideas. It’s channeled deep over the chassis.
September 5, 2019 at 23:36 #65142TorchieParticipantI’m glad someone else has a piece of shit to start with But more importantly…it’s a complete piece of shit.
You took the words right out of my mouth, Tony.
Welcome to the “lets start with the rustiest car we can find and then cut it all up” club. Quentin.
Good to see you back posting again on the site….
Your brother in rust……
Torchie
September 6, 2019 at 00:04 #65143Quentin HallParticipantRemember guys a “ complete piece of shit” is much better than an incomplete piece of shit”.
September 6, 2019 at 00:46 #65144TonyParticipantUmm…that was my point.
September 12, 2019 at 10:30 #65179Quentin HallParticipantI’m over in Perth but fly home tomorrow and collect the car on Sunday.
But I like to tinker away and couldn’t help but start planning the trunk.
I picked up a clean 48 FX trunklid for $80. But when I put it against a Cadillac it looks like a postage stamp.
The Packard rear fenders which are quite rounded will dictate the curve of the trunk but I’ll take this FX trunklid back in my luggage on the plane.
But then I looked at Bert’s glorious 41, I really love the way he tapered the trunk into a narrow sweep. With just the hint of a crown.
Then I looked at the original sedan trunklid and it might lend itself to being flipped upside down. We’ll see . Will get my tetanus shot on Saturday.
September 12, 2019 at 11:29 #65180TonyParticipantDo you have the tail lights? They’re an approved early custom piece. 🙂
September 12, 2019 at 13:04 #65181Quentin HallParticipantYep.
September 15, 2019 at 10:40 #65197Quentin HallParticipantSo Sherril and I went for a Sunday country drive over the New South Wales border near Byron Bay to pay the $500 for the Packard. Google maps took us to an idyllic driveway of a macadamia farm and as we ventured up the long driveway I said to Sherril,”This is like heaven”!
We arrived at the house and farm sheds and waved to the guy on the tractor slashing the grass before a beautiful dam and lush rolling country side. His shirtless mates were there too.  Let’s just say that I had arrived in “hillbilly heaven”.
He led me over to the car and I could not believe how badly the body was rusted. “What the hell have I done?”I thought. Poor Sherril had to entertain the guys whilst I peered through the windows and looked at the rusted off spark plugs in the block.
I looked for the dash but it had rusted away to nothing. So I just dug through the crusty seat springs and discovered the rear guards and pulled them out and they weren’t that bad. ….and the taillights were perfect. Then I opened the trunk and it pulled away from the body the hinges rusted away. But I looked at the trunk and it’s not that bad….and flipped it over onto the profile of the rear fender and it looks like they inverted the coupe trunk as a sedan lid… I was feeling a little better.
Then I found the remains of the crusty dash and the Art Deco clock and speedo are perfect amongst the rotted trim pieces. How I can’t explain. The cowl is shot to pieces but I’m gonna make an welded aluminium cowl like a sectioned Darrin cast one.
I picked up the remains of the completely rusted out headlights but I bought a wonderful rust free pair of torpedo headlights for $50 a while ago. “I can do this!!!” I thought.
The radiator is brass and not a mark but the shroud ornament is gone ( ok I have a beautiful streamlined flat cap that will fit perfectly and Darrin hated the Pelican adorning his streamlined hoods) The 18 chrome grill bats broke off in my hands when you touched them. But the profile is easily fabricated in my press in stainless and they need to be 3 inches shorter for the sectioned cowl anyhow.
I looked at the chassis scared it was surely stuffed…. but it’s ok!
The front guards are twisted up but the shape is there and the only rust is where the running board attaches and will get cut off anyhow.
I handed him the money and thought “ I’m crazy!” But I started to smile cos everything I need is ok.
Then this afternoon I got a call from a guy in South Australia who is advertising a 39 Packard sedan fully restored. I asked if he had any spares and he said “I’ve got a whole car with a mint front clip that I bought in case I hit a kangaroo. You can have everything for $1500”
So already the gods of Packard are looking out for me.
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