You never know what is waiting behind a garage door.  Take for example this 1937 Packard Super Eight 1501 coupe.  Think of the long journey this car has been on for it to end up advertised on Craigslist in 2024.  At the time this car was built, it was one of the most expensive coupes on the market.  Sold during the depths of the Great Depression, this full CCCA classic was one of just 5,835 Super Eight Packards made that year of any body style.  We have seen cars of this type at top-level concours all over the country.  If it were yours, what would you do with it?  Clean it up and drive it?  Embark on a full restoration?

The ad unfortunately doesn’t give us much information about this amazing car.  All we are told is that this 1937 Packard 1501 coupe, complete with a rumble seat, starts and runs.  There was some engine and suspension work done years ago.  Someone started working with the intent of doing a full restoration, but that plan got derailed.  We are not told exactly what was done to this stately Packard, but the fact that it starts and runs is half the battle to getting it back on the road.  A set of tires, repacking the bearings, checking all the fluids, and flushing out the hydraulic brake system would surely have this Packard floating down the highway once again.

Looking at the pictures reveals a car that still carries much of the grandeur that it left the factory with.  While the paint may have faded and there are spots where bodywork has taken place but not been completed, there appear to be no major issues with the body itself.  The chrome could use some polishing, and we may be surprised at just how nicely the car cleans up after some detailing.  Even the intricately stamped chrome bumpers that were a Packard styling stand out could pass muster after some elbow grease.  That alone would save thousands.  The instruments pictured above are also in fantastic shape.  Surely this is a car that has been out of the elements nearly all of its life.

Inside we can see that the upholstery is in very good shape except for the armrest on the passenger side.  The steering wheel is not cracked and the small parts and pieces are all there and in good condition.  Once again, it would be nice to know if the interior is original to the car.  We can also see that there is a small trickle charger sitting on the seat.  This leads us to believe that the car has been tended to by someone who understands the little details inherent in maintaining an older automobile.

Under the hood of this Packard is the company’s fabled Super Eight.  This mammoth engine displaced 320 cubic inches and its eight cylinders churned out an impressive 130 horsepower and gobs of low-end torque.  These were impressive numbers for the time, but the real draw was the incredible smoothness of this engine.  Stories that are told include placing a glass of water on top of a running engine and not seeing any ripples, or being able to balance a nickel on its edge without it falling off.  Regardless of whether they are true or not, the fact that they can be told with a straight face is a testament to just how well-built and balanced these powerplants were.  The seller does tell us in the ad that the “motor idles smooth as butter,” so some of that magic must still be there.

The question on this car revolves around what to do with it if you purchased it.  A full concours-level restoration would surely run into six figures in a short time.  The quality of materials used in Packards and the craftsmanship required to make the restoration equal to the quality of this car when it rolled off the assembly line is in no way inexpensive.  Perhaps a better use of the car would be to have it professionally detailed, repair anything that is in need, and just drive and enjoy it as it sits.  While the car is handsome in every way, it is built for driving.  Making it pretty again can wait.

If you are looking for a very original CCCA full classic at a respectable price, then this 1937 Packard 1501 coupe for sale on Craigslist in Spokane, Washington may be a diamond in the rough.  This running and driving Packard coupe is currently being offered at a reasonable $39,000.  Thanks to Tony P. for the Packard find!