Vehicle Description
1949 Packard 23 Series Club Sedan
In 1949, (and still in Oregon and New Jersey today) gas stations
pumped gas for their customers, and there was a skill in not
overfilling the tank. Packard had to be a favorite for gas station
attendants. As a Packard gas tank was being filled, there was a
whistling sound. When the tank was full, the whistling stopped and
there was no overfill. Now the pump does this for you.
For consignment a torpedo back pontoon fender styled Packard 23
which was lovingly referred to as a "bathtub" type. While this was
considered futuristic during the war the 1948-1950 Packard styling
was polarizing. To some it was sleek and blended classic with
modern; others nicknamed it the "pregnant elephant". Test driver
for Modern Mechanix, Tom McCahill, referred to the newly designed
Packard as "a goat" and "a dowager in a Queen Mary hat". This
consigner stated 12,528 mile car with just two owners, has its
original paint, and interior.
Exterior
Original tan bathes the exterior of this car. It has a few areas of
crazing, and surface rust under the paint, as well as some
scratches and just chip off. Plenty of chrome trim adorns this tan
bubble and is in mostly good condition excepting a few areas on the
handles and rear view mirror that have a light misting of dimpling.
All glass is clear, and dish style wheel covers are shiny and
clean.
Interior
On the doors, very nice fuzzy broadcloth mixes with lower vinyl
panels, with in tan. A slight bit of chrome edging and chrome
handles have bakelite bezels. The top rails of the doors are
adorned with faux wood grained metal. Seating is tan and cream
striped broadcloth, and the front split back bench and rear bench
with arms sit in brown vinyl covered tubs, which float on rubber
flooring upfront, and tan carpet on the rear. The faux wood grained
metal continues on the dash front and dash top which has a chromed
bezeled instrument cluster, and massive central horizontal chromed
grid radio speaker cover and radio. All lighting controls and heat
controls are pushbuttons, lined up at the bottom of this grid.
Instruments are a beautiful metallic champagne with 3-dimensional
off-white art deco styled numbers and pointers. A tight mohair
headliner in gray is seen above.
Drivetrain
An inline 288.6ci 8-cylinder engine is in an original engine bay.
Surface rust abounds on the block and head, but new spark plug
wiring can be noted. A Carter downdraft 2-barrel carburetor feeds
the fossils, and a 3-speed manual transmission with a 3.90 gear
back end completes the drivetrain.
Undercarriage
An array of varying degrees of surface rust is seen all over the
undercarriage. None of this though appears to be impeding the
structural integrity of this car, even on the rockers. It is more a
visual annoyance than anything else. Drum brakes are all
around.
Drive-Ability
A great running and driving example that starts right away and
performs as it should. These Packard's are reliable and
mechanically sound. A new fuel pump was just added for additional
ease of starting.
A 2-owner car the consigner only owning the car for the past 2
years, and the first owner owning it since 1949 when it was
purchased new. Very clean interior, decent paint, and an
interesting design line will lead you to "ask a man who owns one",
when referring to the Packard.
VIN Decode
23952868
23-1949 Packard 23rd Series
35-Eight Club Sedan
2868-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 500 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.