Here is Rik’s photoshop again, for comparison, that was my guide. The sills changed, as did top of doors. But this is the colour it will be. Havana Beige... the original colour of the car.
I have bits lying everywhere so just for my sanity I am putting bits on to get a feel. Now it’s not to the traditional custom look, more a Coachbuilt custom look, but I scored a Super 8 trunkrack locally for $200. Rare as hen’s teeth especially locally. The Jag bumper doesn’t work without the rack cos it’s too straight in the middle. But with the rack installed it fits perfectly. Holes in bumper nearly lined up with Packard irons. Anyhow they are both off the floor and gives me an opportunity to decide if I like it or loathe it. To reshape the rear bumper will require a 300 tonne press ( which my mate has... but that can wait for now.) Also bought some 39 caps.
I like the rack, it's classy, but does it interfere with the license plate? Because the recessed plate in the trunk is another feature I really like. Would the rack get modified to keep the plate visible, or how would that work?
That’s my next challenge. I found the original number plate light in the dirt in the shed where I originally found the car. Placed on the rack it also corresponded with a crescent shape already cut out in the Jag bumper. So I just enlarged it a bit with a nice seamed edge and when the rack folds it clears the bumper. I think I will round the square corners on the rack and make a nice low streamlined rounded corner trunk. ( just cos I can ) .... trunk installed, the original recessed plate can be used . It’s early days ... I’m still inventing.
My heart tells me .. that entire rack & bumper assembly, will soon look .. completely different. ** The betting lines are now open.
@CadMad I am confused a bit (not unusual).......is the number plate going to be mounted to the rack, as pictured ? If so, what happens to the nicely frenched deck lid location? Looks good either way....just curious Ray
if you move the Packard emblem down one space you could see the plate through the top space and mount a light on the rack to shine on the plate
Good spotting Mark. That is what I’m doing. I’m gonna play with it a bit till I’m happier with the outcome. If it doesn’t work I’ll take it off . I
Boys, this is like watching Michelangelo paint the Sistine Chapel or sculpt David. Simply breathtaking!
I just think it's refreshing (and reassuring) to see a shop that one can see work is actually being done, not as a display. The cars of course are staggeringly creative, but that shop (I guess you call it a "shed") is great.
Thanks Brian. Yes I do tend to get in a bit of a creative zone and don’t see the mess around me. Think of me as the “Alexander Calder of customisation.” I tried urgently to converse with Rik yesterday arvo to get some creative input on the number plate frame which I tried to morph into a more sculpted shape ... but it soon became obvious that it was looking more and more like a Jag trunklid again.... alas ....Netherland’s time was bed o’clock.... so I texted back and forth with Tony (X38) and then called him and he (in his very blunt and forthright manner.... ie “ it looks like a B/W TV on the back of your trunk!”), finally made me realise that the sunk plate and rack ( if I indeed end up using it were fighting each other). So at the end of the day I bit the bullet and cut the sunk plate out and rolled up a smooth trunk piece. Which I will weld in this morning.
Wonderful! Your car so I wasn't going to offer an opinion, but that whole sculpted, sunken license plate business has been stabbing me in the eyes since I first saw it, lol. To me it was disturbing the smooth flow of the deck lid area on an otherwise super streamlined masterpiece. Maybe put the damned plate under the car on a hinge with a solenoid so it folds flat and only drops into view when you turn on the key. I flush mounted the plate on a custom Harley 25 years ago. It wasn't invisible, but at least it wasn't free standing, haha.
My first instinct is to put the plate on a discreet but unabashed little pedestal, and have the curve of the rear flow underneath it. Think Art Deco wall-mounted bathroom soap dish turned vertical: but it would be a separate little design project in itself.
I’m onto it Alchemy. This just popped up in my Facebook memories and reinforces the fact that I need to get these two together sometime soon.
Saw this in Dan Post’s blue book of custom restyling. Your Packard definitely has better flow and looks so much better. Sent from my iPhone using H.A.M.B.
The Jalopy Journal
