Description
This 1939 Packard is a factory Right Hand Control example sold by the London dealer, Leonard Williams.
The car has 49k original miles on the clock and has always been garaged.
It was originally sold to a big estate on the Dorset coast where it was the lady of the manor's chauffeur driven car.
During this time the rear of the car was coach built to let more light in through the back window.
The car has the 5243 Cubic Centimetres Straight 8 with a 3 speed manual gearbox with Overdrive, so it does cruise comfortably between 60 and 70mph.
Interior is cloth and all original with no tears. Seat belts have been fitted.
I bought this car in 2004 and recommissioned it for road use between 2008 and 2013 and have driven about 1000 miles in it.
All chassis rubbers and shock absorbers have been restored and a new set of five steel belted white wall tyres fitted.
Currently the car is not running as it has been sitting since 2014, but was last driven around my workshop yard in 2021.
It won't take much to awaken the car again.
The paint and chrome need to be re done as the car looks like it has been dragged out of a barn, but it has always caused quite a stir at car shows just the way it is.
These big powerful Senior Packards are very unusual and ideal as a wedding car.
Some spare parts and the original owners manual are with the car.
I have way too many cars and it's time for this car to go to the next owner. As the advertising for Packards goes :- Ask the man who own's one.
The car was sold new to an estate on the Dorset coast and was the lady of the manor's car. This vehicle was always chauffeur driven.
The rear of the car has been coach built to let more light in through the rear window. A Bentley boot lid was installed on the rear. On the inside behind the boot linings all the woodwork framing has been made beautifully.
The car was traded out of the estate in around 1963 and the original registration number removed. The current registration was added at that time. I think I am the fourth owner.
Having been interested and owned both Studebakers and Packards for the last 41 years on the three continents I have lived around the globe, my first chance to own a pre war Senior Packard came about with this car in 2004.
It had been sitting a long time before I purchased it from Bournemouth. It had been to Jim Denne of West Hoathly garage in the 1990's for recommissioning, but was never driven by the previous owner.
Jim was THE MAN for pre war Packards and gave me a lot of advice when re commissioning the car from 2008 to 2013.
These cars are absolutely fabulous on the road and handle beautifully.
Packards were very popular pre war as they were about one third the prices of a Rolls Royce, had more up to date style and had bullet proof reliability. Rolls Royce even approached Packard to buy their front suspension system, but Packard was not interested.
Once you have driven one that handles as it should, you begin to understand why they are such a magnificent machine.
1939 was the first year for Packard with OverDrive and it shifted the was the car behaved dramatically.
A lot of money has been spent on this car underneath where nobody want to go. It's heavy work and generally a two man job.
Currently there is no bonnet mascot, but I have a new one that goes with the car.
This is a fabulous car that you can drive 'As Is' with a little work, or do some restoration to.
