Vehicle Description
1936 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 was restored in the past and now is
showing its age, but still a good runner and a great looker, the
1936 Packard 120 sedan. This lifelong York, Pennsylvania car has
been treated to new brakes, a new fuel tank, and a new battery and
is ready to be taken to the next level to fully enjoy the Packard
styling and looks, all wrapped into a smaller more affordable car
in this 120.
Exterior
With its tall vertical ribbed stained chrome grille, bullet style
headlights, teardrop turn signal housings, and single wide bar
chrome bumper with guards along with the standard hood
ornament/radiator cap leads the way on this large and expensive
looking automobile. All surfaces are bathed in faded pale yellow
paint and slightly tarnished chrome. A few slight areas of touch
ups, minor cracks in the paint, and a small area on the left front
wheel arch with some bubbling, overall paint is fair. A long side
body matching vented trimmed hood makes its way back to 4 nicely
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 and this sweeping design carries over to the trunk which
has a wonderful rounded rear glass just above. Small rounded
taillights are on either side and just below another wide curved
bumper with a Packard badge in the center and a foldable luggage
rack just above. Wide whites wrap pale yellow steel wheels that
have Packard badged dish center covers appearing on all 4
corners.
Interior
A swing of the doors and all are covered nicely with a smooth
broadcloth which mixes with a carpeted lower section all in tan.
Thick piping creates the illusion of an inner panel and is dressed
with shiny handles and cranks are mounted on these panels and with
all presenting in a worn but usable format. Inside, a big front
bench in more tan with thin green striped broadcloth all being a
very resilient material. 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 present
in good condition with only a few small holes that one must search
for to find. All seating floats in a sea of soiled tan carpet, and
is capped with a tan mohair headliner, nice and tightly preserved.
Up front the original dash in all its art deco styling and
gray/brown painted metal splendor with embossed bezels framing the
original white faced instruments. In the center are several
bakelite knobs and buttons along with the ignition switch and ash
receptacle. 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
wonderful dash.
Drivetrain
Pulling upward on either side cowling reveals the restored green
painted 282ci inline 8-cylinder engine. A 2-barrel side draft
carburetor is attached to the side, and a 3-speed manual
transmission is on the back sending power to a 4.09 geared rear
axle. This is believed to be 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 X frame holds all the upper body and undercarriage
working to it, and all is looking very structurally solid with a
liberal coating of surface rust. Independent coil sprung front
suspension with drum brakes are seen, and on back leaf springs with
more drum brakes are strapped on. As mentioned earlier, the brakes
have been gone through and the fuel tank has been redone.
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 1930's Packard sedan
should. All functions were operational at the time of my drive, and
I even drew tons of stares and thumbs up making me feel like a
movie star.
Many years have gone by since the restoration, and while
mechanically solid, is due for a full blown restoration to take
this car to concours level, this car deserves it. Runs like a
well-cared for car and shows a minute amount of slight rust on that
wheel arch, but otherwise looking good and solid. Interior is
comfortable and the car drives very smoothly, as one would expect
in a Packard. Cue up Billie Holiday and Tommy Dorsey, I'm gonna
step out for a night on the town.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 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.