Big Project: 1947 Packard Custom Super
The immediate postwar sales literature that Packard put out deservedly made much of their contributions to the war effort. Packard engines powered PT boats and Packard-built Rolls-Royce engines took to the sky in military aircraft. And if you were lucky, you could buy a new Packard automobile. If you’re still on the postwar car waiting list, then here’s your chance to take home a 1947 Packard Custom Super for sale on Craigslist near Cleveland, Ohio for just $1,500.
Packard was still the car that the successful and almost-successful wanted to be seen in after the war. These big, comfortable cars had a presence that few others could match and the prestige of owning one spoke volumes about the thickness of the driver’s wallet as well as his good taste.
The seller of this car says that he got the car out of a northern Illinois barn about five years ago with an idea that he would restore it. Like many projects, it turned out to be one too many and it is now for sale. He states that all of the pieces are there including trim and mechanical items. The car rolls on newish tires that still hold air.
The 165 horsepower, 356 cubic inch straight eight engine is locked solid. The seller states that he has had the bores soaking in oil for several months, but to no avail. The transmission is a three speed manual with overdrive and Packard’s Electromatic clutch. The head is off the engine but the ad states that all of the parts are there for the next owner to work with.
The interior is a little better than what you expect in a car of its age and exterior condition with the upholstery and carpets mostly intact and usable as patterns for replacements. Pictures of the door coverings show them to be in reasonable condition, again good for patterns. The floors are said to be solid but the trunk floor and inner rocker panels need to be replaced.
The body of the old car is not too bad, but there is a rather large dent caused by a collapsing barn on the passenger side rear quarter. Any restorer with good bodywork skills can take care of it easily. There are traces of the original dark blue paint that the factory applied to it and it looks like someone tried to spray over some of the surface corrosion to slow its progress. I think the seller has priced this car more than fairly and he says he hopes that it will be restored or at least used to help out with other projects. Could this be the Packard for you?
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Comments
It looks like it’s time to pull the engine and undo all the main brgs and con rod brgs. Than apply some pressure to each piston with a block of wood a cross bar and the head bolts. This neat old Packard is going to need a lot of work so your going to need to draw on a lot of skill to bring this back. All it needs is a driver quality resto. So it can be driven and enjoyed that rear fender is going to need some hammer and Dooley work and you might need some heat to to pull out some of those creases. I’d repair the fenders think it would be less work than cutting and welding in a replacement. This is close to how my dodge was so I can say with certainty you’ll be at this car for a few thousand hour which is a big commitment. The price seems pretty fair too.
LS swap!!!
😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣
@Steve, that’s not even close to being funny. This Packard has class, something that basically every GM product misses! I guess you never drove a Packard straight 8, let alone a V12 to experience class.
Hey Rodney if you can straighten that right rear fender real easy I would be willing to hire you in a “New York Minute” at my body shop.
Every body will hate me but I think it’s time to build a Packard pick-up!
Very fair price, and yes at least 1000 hours labor and a few 1000’s $ more by an individual and farmed out work to complete into a worthy drivable auto.
One of Packards greatest assets, even up to end, was the quality of their build, which made every other marque, even Cadillac and Lincoln seem shoddy.
Agree that they were great drivers, dependable to extreme, and had that mystical feeling of “class”.
If one cannot bring motor back, there are motors, even 6 or 12 available.
These will never reach stature of earlier models, nor their values so indeed the individual will work her over as part of personal satisfaction for job well done.
There are viable engine option with, IMO, over 400 cubew/ auto of any make worthy of consideration and less expensive than Packard eng. rebuild.
It always amazed me how tight tolerances of not only their engines were but specs on door hinges and fitting of fenders etc.
Built by men who were not run of mass production assembly line character and liked work and managers.
Met a few and found them all fonts of knowledge.
Rebuild to a real interior Luxury, not bling, and keep body as near stock appearing as possile.
More a chore than I want today, but still would like would like to tackle that fender and rear panel, just to prove it can be done.
Growing up with do it yourself mentors I heated, hammered, leaded out, and painted what today can be done far more quickly, time is costly, with and by newer materials and equipment “experts”.
I am not a Packard expert, but I believe the seller and the writer have some confusion on the name of this car. It is either a Super or a Custom Clipper but not both a Super Custom.
If I’m not mistaken, I believe the Custom Clipper was Packard’s top of the line in 1947, unlike the 1950s when the Clipper was a cheaper Packard. The most unusual feature of this car will be the front-to-back headliner bows–an absolutely unique and amazing feature! And the 356 was Packard’s biggest engine in the 1940s, so this car is no slouch. Very, very much worth restoring.
I am not a Packard expert, but I believe the seller and the writer have some confusion on the name of this car. It is either a Super or a Custom Clipper but not both a “Super Custom”.
If I’m not mistaken, I believe the Custom Clipper was Packard’s top of the line in 1947, unlike the 1950s when the Clipper was a cheaper Packard. The most unusual feature of this car will be the front-to-back headliner bows–an absolutely unique and amazing feature! And the 356 was Packard’s biggest engine in the 1940s, so this car is no slouch. Very, very much worth restoring.