Vehicle Description
Stunning six-figure refurbishment by D&D Classic Auto. Massive
139-inch wheelbase, first year independent front suspension, first
year hydraulic brakes. Fantastic road car ready to tour. Just
beautiful inside and out.According to records compiled by the most
recent owner, this beautiful 1937 Packard 1502 convertible sedan
has a fascinating history behind it. Originally sold through the
legendary Earle C. Anthony distributorship in Los Angeles (yes, the
data plate is a reproduction, but this car also carries an original
Earle C. Anthony maintenance tag on the firewall), it is rumored
that this car has spent time in India and Italy before being
repatriated in the early 2000s. In 2007 the car was stripped to
bare metal with panel alignment by Clayton Restorations and fresh
Pomeranian Red paint was applied by Cedar Hawks. A new leather
interior and fresh top were installed by Duncan & Sons Upholstery
with the top alone costing $5000. In 2019, the car was delivered to
D&D Classic Auto in Dayton, Ohio and another $132,000 in
restoration work was performed, including repainting and striping
all six wheels, installing six new Firestone whitewall tires,
correctly fitting the metal sidemount covers, and detailing the
engine with correct Packard olive green paint. Additional work
included refinishing much of the chrome, rebuilding the clock,
rebuilding the carburetor, re-coring the radiator, repairing the
thermostatic radiator shutters, re-casting the steering wheel,
rebuilding the power brake booster, and much more. The goal was a
roadworthy tour car that could show well in club events and in that
regard, they succeeded. The car is just gorgeous in person!The
interior wears eight hides of glove soft light tan leather that
were supplied by a previous owner, with the bill for just the labor
coming in at over $9000. The gauges were all rebuilt and are
operational, as is the clock. Dark brown carpets provide some
contrast and the burled woodgraining on the dash and garnish
moldings is beautifully done. The newly cast steering wheel is
correct with the only real demerit being some tarnishing on the
chrome horn button (which has been clear-coated so it cannot be
polished without first being stripped). Turn signals were added
during the most recent service at D&D. The upholstery is
virtually unmarked and has the kind of sumptuous luxury for which
Packard was justifiably famous-this certainly feels like a very
expensive, high-end car from behind the wheel. Thanks to the
massive wheelbase, rear seat accommodations are spacious and it
includes a storage compartment built into the back of the front
seat back. The top fits beautifully and a new wooden top bow was
fabricated by D&D to replace one that had been damaged in the
past. The trunk is fully upholstered to match and there are no
signs of corrosion issues underneath the carpet. This car obviously
lived in a warm, dry climate most of its life.The 320 cubic inch
Packard straight-8 really needs no introduction. Impeccably smooth
and torquey, it moved some of the greatest sheetmetal of the 1930s.
This engine was built sometime prior to the paint and upholstery
work and was freshened by D&D with a head-off service and new,
correct Packard Green engine enamel. New acorn nuts were installed
on the head, the carburetor was rebuilt, the water pump, generator
and starter were rebuilt and detailed, and there's a new wiring
harness from Potomac Packard. The car starts easily, idles
smoothly, and pulls itself down the road with the kind of
effortless ease you'd expect, although it remains a very large
automobile. It is content to cruise at 55 MPH, making it an
excellent tour vehicle, and a new exhaust system gives it just the
right hushed burble at idle. The 3-speed manual transmission offers
smooth shifts and easy clutch action with no chatter and the
rebuilt brakes are powerful. Steering is light, although the
bias-ply tires make it wander just a bit on rutted surfaces, which
is typical. There's also an NOS gas tank in back and six new
7.50-16 Firestone wide whitewall tires, as original.Documentation
is extensive, including a huge file of receipts, ownership history
and dates, historical documentation, brochures, manuals, and much,
much more, all compiled by the most recent owner. Receipts and
photos of all the recent work at D&D are of particular
interest, showing just how extensively this car was serviced.For
those enthusiasts who understand the special place a 1937 Packard
holds in that company's history, this is a wonderful find.
Roadworthy and impressive, it's a delight to viewers and passengers
alike. It embodies all that made Packard the pinnacle of the
American automobile industry in the 1930s and delivers on the
legend. And thanks to all the recent work, it's ready for a new
owner to enjoy. Call today!Harwood Motors always recommends and
welcomes personal or professional inspections of any vehicle in our
inventory prior to purchase.