Restored 282ci I-8 Drivetrain/Restored Interior/Nice Exterior Paint And Chrome

1940 Packard 120 Sedan

Packard was never known for taking risks, and that's part of the marque's appeal today. The 120, which was smaller and less expensive than the senior Packard cars, was roughly equivalent to a Buick yet offered big car styling that's instantly recognizable. The tall grille with the Packard ridge at the top, long hood, and tasteful rounded bodywork all successfully blurred the lines between the 120 and its big brothers. The 120 was the car that saved Packard from the ravages of the Great Depression, and it turns out that they're some of the best-driving Packard's of all.

For consignment, a car which 12 years ago underwent a full rebuild in the form of a 1940 120 Packard. This includes a rebuilt engine and all ancillary components, upholstery, headliner, new glass and surrounding moldings, a full paint job, restored running boards and new wheel cylinders. Packard styling and looks, wrapped into a smaller more affordable car in this 120.

Exterior
With its tall vertical ribbed chromed grille, bullet styled headlights and turn signal housings, fog lights, and triple bar bumper addition, the Goddess of Speed hood ornament leads the way on this clean and expensive looking automobile. All surfaces are very nicely preserved bathed in black paint or chromed with a mirror like finish all is good. A few slight areas of overzealous painting with some orange peel finish, minor cracks in the paint, and a small area on the rocker with some bubbling, overall paint is good. A long side chrome vented trimmed hood makes its way back to 4 beautifully aligned doors with a common latch pillar that float above the running boards which are attached by front and rear bulbous and curved fenders. In keeping with the lines, all the windows are rounded as is the humpback trunk design which had a wonderful split rounded rear glass just above. Thin oval taillights are on either side and just below another fine curved bumper. with a red Packard scripted badge in the center. Wide whites wrap black steel wheels that have a nicely preserved dish center and trim rings attached at the edges, appearing on all 4 corners.

Interior
A swing of the doors and all are covered nicely with a vertical ribbed broadcloth which mixes with and upper panel of solid gray. and a lower panel of gray carpet. Shiny handles and cranks are mounted on these panels and they all have nicely aged bakelite knobs. Inside, a big front bench in two tone gray thin striped broadcloth for inserts and bolsters show little to no wear, and just a few creases. In back another bench matching the front however this one offers up curved overstuffed armrests and plenty of rear legroom for the rear passengers to stretch out. All seating floats in a sea of clean gray carpet, and is capped with gray headliner, nice and tightly preserved. Up front the original dash in all its art deco styling and brown painted metal splendor with ribbed bezels and horizontal trimmings frames the instruments. In the center is an original radio, and several more bakelite knobs and buttons. In front of the passenger is a round clock sitting within the glovebox door. A heater box is noted below the dash, and the original steering column and large wheel is fronting the beautiful dash.

Drivetrain
Pulling upward on either side cowl, reveals the restored green painted 282ci inline 8-cylinder engine. A 1-barrel side draft carburetor is attached to the side, and a 3-speed manual transmission is on back. This is the original drivetrain that came with the car right from the factory. Looking nice and clean with some patina under the long hood.

Undercarriage
A big solid rust free X frame holds all the upper body and undercarriage working to it, and all is looking very structurally solid with no rust. Independent coil sprung front suspension with drum brakes are seen, and on back leaf springs with more drum brakes are strapped on.

Drive-Ability
This quasi luxury car (although just like its larger kin, is beautifully appointed just not as large!) started right up and accelerated, stopped, and handled nicely as a 1940's Packard sedan should. Noted the fog lights do not work as they are not hooked up, the clock in inoperable, and the radio does not work. The car can cruise at highway speeds easily and comfortably.

12 years have gone by since the restoration, and it still shines and shows nicely. Runs like a well-cared for car and shows a minute amount of slight rust on that rocker, but otherwise looking great. Interior is comfortable and the car drives very smoothly. As one would expect in a Packard. Allow the Goddess of Speed to lead the way!

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 600 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.