Vehicle Description
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.
