Vehicle Description
1937 Packard 115 Coupe
The new Packard Six of 1937, internally known as the 115-C, due to
the wheelbase size, was the company's first six-cylinder car since
1927. The 115-C was positioned as a low priced vehicle that could
serve as a companion to the company's very successful eight
cylinder One Twenty. The six cylinder engine in the 115-C was
essentially from the One Twenty but with two fewer cylinders. Both
the six and the eight cylinder engines had similar bore and stroke
sizes, resulting in similar displacements. The six has 237ci and
the eight has 282ci. The Packard 115-C was designed to make the
exclusive marque a little less exclusive, wearing hand-made bodies
that were not usually part of the six cylinder value proposition.
With attractive styling, a powerful engine, Packard craftsmanship,
and affordable prices, the six cylinder Packard was popular with
the buying community, and 30,050 examples were sold. The popularity
of the One Twenty continued to be strong with 50,100 examples sold.
Among the Senior Packard lines, the Super Eight had 5,793 sales and
the Twelve had 1,300 sales. From the Packard Six to the Packard
Twelve, the 1937 line offered something in nearly every price
class.
For consignment, a car which approximately 13 years ago underwent a
full rebuild and now is showing wonderfully in the form of a 1937
Packard 115 Coupe. This includes a rebuilt engine and all ancillary
components, upholstery, headliner, new glass and surrounding
moldings, a full paint job, restored running boards and all
starting with a rust free body. 21,076 actual miles with Packard
styling and looks, wrapped into a smaller more affordable car in
this 115.
Exterior
With its tall vertical ribbed chromed grille, bullet style
headlights and turn signal housings, Trippe fog lights, and wide
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 Continental Blue paint or
chromed with a mirror like finish and all is good. A few slight
areas of overzealous painting with some orange peel finish, cracks
in the paint, and a small areas of touch up where the hood
naturally rubs the body when opening and closing but overall paint
is good. A long side chrome and body matching louvered trimmed hood
sides makes its way back to 2 beautifully aligned doors with a
standard rear latch pillar that floats 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
sloping trunk design which had a wonderful half crescent rounded
rear glass just above. Small bullet style tail lights on stalks are
on either side and just below is another fine curved bumper with
small bumper guards justoutboard of center. Wide whites wrap blue
steel wheels that have a nicely preserved dish center covers and
trim rings attached at the edges, appearing on all 4 corners.
Interior
A swing of the doors and all are covered nicely with smooth tan
wool broadcloth which mixes with a lower panel of brown carpet.
Shiny handles and cranks are mounted on these panels and they all
have nicely chromed knobs. Inside, a big front split bench in more
tan wool broadcloth for inserts and bolsters show little to no
wear, and just a few very light creases. In back is a small storage
area with an upper rear wool cushion that gives the entire interior
a very open and airy feel. All seating floats in a sea of clean
brown carpet, and is capped with tan wool headliner, nice and
tightly preserved. Up front the original and restored dash, in all
its art deco styling and black painted metal glory presents with a
very convincing walnut burl woodgrain splendor with chrome trimmed
bezels to frame the antique white face instruments. In the center
is an original AM radio, a quadrant of supporting gauges and
several more chrome knobs and buttons. In front of the passenger is
a round clock sitting within the glovebox door. A Packard heater
box is noted below the dash, and the original steering column and
large recast and restored banjo style wheel is fronting the
beautiful dash.
Drivetrain
Pulling upward on either side of the cowl, reveals the restored
green painted 237ci inline 6-cylinder engine. A replacement
1-barrel downdraft carburetor is attached to the side,but the
original unit is included, and a 3-speed manual transmission is on
back. A 4.36 geared rear axle moves you down the road with vigor
and enthusiasm. This is the original drivetrain that came with the
car right from the factory and appears factory correct down to the
olive green engine paint, black air cleaner assembly, hose clamps
and acornnuts.
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. Safe-T-Flex independent coil sprung front
suspension with drum brakes are seen, and on back leaf springs with
more drum brakes are strapped on. We note the flooring and frame
have been left in a black painted finish to show off the factory
supports and the fact that this chassis has never succumbed to
invasive rust.
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
should. All functions, including the AM radio were operational at
the time of my drive and this car can cruise at highway speeds
easily and comfortably.
13+ 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 paint flaws on the body, 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.
