Hot Rods Styling help - 37 Packard.

Beautiful classic cruiser, photos don't do this car justice. Perfect as is.

 

Get a Fedora, a cigar and leave the car alone.

 

I tried, but my skills just aren't there AND the body lines of this car do not want to be cut up. The little quarter window is so much shorter than the door, and you'd have to rework the trunk/quarters/back of roof so much. In this version, I actually EXTENDED the wheelbase to try to make it work, by probably 10 inches to a foot.

 

Eh, y'all are no fun...

Like I said, I'm not going to buy this car. I like that coachbuilt one a lot, even though (heresy!) I like it a bit higher off the ground - remember I'm tall.

And I agree with the "don't mess up a nice Packard" crowd too.

There's still something I like about the dimensions of my photohack though. Sort of a Bantam / Anglia feel, it maybe could work with a different starting point. Anything after about this age would not have the needed flat front grill.

 

To me the body looks to long for the hood. It`s out of proportion, so I`d lengthen the hood and wheelbase.

 

Here is the stock 6-cyl coupe. I like it, as a small coupe.

(I may have this wrong, I was reading up today). This has a 115 inch wheelbase. They also made a straight 8, I think it came with a 120 inch wheelbase, and a V-12 model with a longer wheelbase yet.

 

The V-12 coupe. See golf club door. Huge.

 

I always thought it would be neat to take a 30s or 40s car and cut it up just enough to make it look like the sales brochure art. The cars always looked chopped and lowered in the art. No one would ever notice the car had been modified unless it was parked next to a stocker.

Also I really like the styling of the packard roadster that is being built at hollywood hot rods. The big 30s cars look best when they stay long and swoopy, not shortened up like a clown car.

 

Let the matronly cruiser Sedan be itself.
If you want a Coupe, buy a Coupe and get right to building it w/o 500 hours of metal work (car builds are already enough work)!
You said they want $8500 for that Sedan. Project Coupes can be found reasonably. It's survivor and restored Packards (especially open cars) that are pricey.
Here's a pretty solid Coupe project in your ballpark with a lot of potential for $7500;

http://stlouis.craigslist.org/cto/5546039945.html

FWIW, Here's a 37 that was converted into a Coupe (funky);

http://shoals.craigslist.org/cto/5538921436.html

 

WHOAH ! - is this a work in progress, or history ? If history, please post the final result. If in progress, please post some build pics/thread. This car has the makings of a KILLER ! I'm loving this look, please show us more !!

 

That's what I've always wanted to do, too. With some big straight eight or a Hall Scott or GMC twin six, or a fire truck V12.

 

Here's a sedan version on a stock wheelbase....

 

Now ^that^ works!

StuDBaker beat me long time ago with 'clown car'.....

 

Like an Aussie "sloper" kinda neat

 

You got it mostly right. In 37 (arguably one of the best performing of the era) there were several variants and price points. The one you played with, the 115 6, was at the bottom of the scrotum pole. The 120 was up a bit, used a 288 CID 8 cylinder and was a pretty comfy car especially when fitted with OD. Next came the Super 8. 37 was the year the mighty 385 CID 8 was dropped from the line up and they used the (previously "Eight" model) 320 CID 8 in the those. Still good car, smooth silky torque, styling very close to the grand daddy, the V-12. That 12 you posted sits on a 139" wheelbase, some even sat on a 144" WB. Model designations were in numbered series on seniors, and 37s were essentially 15th series cars, 36 was the 14th, 35 the 12th... Yes, from 12 to 14. Same reason old hotels don't have a 13th floor. Enjoy and "Ask The Man Who Owns One"...

 

IMHO,
No car ever looked better with a shortened wheel base.

 

One exception would be the Duesenberg SSJ:

 

Hey Mac,
Ya maybe, but even this car looks way better
with the long standard wheelbase.
I looked but could not find a picture of the
orange and black Shah of Iran Dusie 2 seat roadster.
Look at that compaired Gary Coopers!
Lets not hijack this thread!

 

Back to the question.
This particular Packard
only looks dowdy
because the trunk looks added on.
I can't photo chop but cut off the
trunk and lower a little and you will
see something completely different, IMHO.

 

Here's the best looking Packard treatment I've ever seen. They won't invite you to Pebble Beach though...

 

Shaved off the bustle for you.

 

No one ever restyled a Packard any better than "Dutch Darrin"..Period...Look him up on google

 

Hey Squablow,
I think that looks great.
Just needs lowering 'till the
wheel well just kisses the top of the tire,
front and back!
I love this stuff!

 

Some of the two-place Duesies could be too long for their own good.


As it was said before, it comes down to proportions. I've always liked this Victoria with the world's biggest piano hinge holding on to the world's biggest suicide door.



Even a Duesenberg can benefit from becoming a custom. Clark Gable certainly got it right.

 

Indeed.

 

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

Now that is a great idea!

 

A bit lower.

 

Wrap it up, I'll take it!
Well done Squablow!!

 

I did this to my 1937 115C Packard.....it goes to paint in the next couple days. Since these pictures last week I was able to make the final fit and adjustment to the front nose and side panels. It is looking ready for color. Gary View attachment 3233055 View attachment 3233056