1939 Packard Custom

So amidst the crusty dash I’ve got a near perfect clock and Speedo. Got the rear guards and trunklid soaking in the phosphoric tank and they are very salvageable. I made new backing plates for the taillights and numberplate  light . I’ll use the taillights and the numberplate light can maybe go on the hotrod.

I have a spare pair of rust free headlights which are an inch longer than stock and a little less bulbous. I’m in my element having a ball!!!!

Headlight on left is original 39 Packard. Rusted out. On right is one of a pair I found a while ago. So with a bit of playing there should be just enough info to modify them to suit. They’re an inch longer so will suit the build perfectly.

Organising collection of the car has proved difficult because I’ve been so busy. I’d conned my brother for a Thursday pickup but he got called into work at the last moment. So my daughter Bronte and I went the two hour drive down to rural Clunes NSW to the farm where the car lies in a delapidated farm shed.

I decided to remove the front clip and bring it home. It all either unbolted or tore off or came off with the help of a battery grinder with a cutting disk. But I got home with the front guards and radiator and support panels. I even found one of the hood tops that had been run over by the farm tractor. The 4piece hood will be completely remade but longer. The cowl is very rusty on the sides which will be cut off but the firewall which will be sectioned 31/2 inches is good. All the other badly rusted parts have enough remaining metal to allow me references to remake.

The front guards are all floppy but once again I know I can retrieve them. The worst rust is where they attached to the running boards but that will get cutoff because I’m deleting the running boards.

Found the headlight trim rings and a beautiful number plate surround lying in the dirt of the shed floor. They have cleaned up nicely.

When the radiator support panel came off it revealed that the front crossmember is rotted out but I have since learned that Darrin cut out the crossmember to lower the radiator the 3 1/2 inches down. Packard later offered Darrin owners a “post production “ crossmember strengthening brace to remedy the compromised cross member.

A very helpful Darrin owner from Michigan has sent me through “ in restoration “ cowl pics showing the Rudy Stoessel designed cast aluminium cowl sides and top section. Dimensions are to follow.

Ive learned that the early cars were built on coupe chassis, the same as the sedan chassis, and suffered body flex. This was remedied by the later cars having the strengthened convertible chassis so some frame boxing or heavier cross braces will be added to the original chassis, which appears to be intact and rot free (except from the front crossmember).

So all in all I’m very happy. Can’t wait to get it home.

Spent some after hours work on the instruments and the grille cowl. Scored a nice pair of dash pieces on eBay and a nos glovebox lock and key. This morning I went to my mate John’s and he gave me two spare grilles and side panels. Bit by bit I’m getting my head around all the modifications required to section the hood 3 inches.

Jag xj6 I believe. $100!!!!

also found a running 46 Packard 6 engine for $450 but I’m broke so have put on a $50 deposit and the guy is really nice and has a 38 8 and his mate also is a Packard guy. So once again the comradeship of old car people ( except for the prick who stole my 53 Eldo parts…. sorry my therapy is working but I still relapse) shines through.