Vehicle Description
1948 Packard Custom Eight Series 2233 Convertible
A swan hood ornament design by Howard F. Yaeger that was assigned
to the Packard Motor Car Company. The patent was issued in 1948.
His design features the Cormorant, or more properly the
Double-Crested Cormorant, which is a migratory bird similar to a
heron or crane in appearance, with an elongated neck and sharply
pointed slightly hooked beak used for diving after fish in the open
water. Unfortunately, it did not last as long as it should have due
to disagreements among the firms' executives who thwarted the
consolidation with AMC, so Studebaker-Packard remained a separate
company. The Packard brand was phased out in 1959 after two years
of declining sales of the Studebaker-built 1957 and 1958 model year
Packards.
For consignment, a classy ass kicker in the form of a 1948 Packard
2233 convertible but....wait for it.. it's been rodded, (OH MY)!
Definitely under the heading of you never know what is coming
through the door next, this example has enough chutzpah to have
earned the privilege of me taking it through the next door
McDonald's drive-thru, an honor reserved for only the very few, and
they have to be special, and this certainly is. Check out the work
done on this classic and you will want to do a drive through
too!
Exterior
A mean bean shaped machine fer shur, it appears to have been a gel
that was extruded from a pipe then chrome and a hood ornament was
added. Aero is the word birdon this example where not a straight
line exists within the design. Even the line for the front of the
hood is curved. Over these undulating sexy surfaces is metallic
silver paint which is in fair condition with plenty of body filler
on the lowers, some slathered on and not sanded nicely. Some of the
pearl top coat application is a bit blotchy, but it still presents
as shiny. Sculpted chrome all around is in very nice rounded over
condition. The gaps are well minded, window trimmings are good, and
tinted glass is all around. A like new black canvas top is on and
it has a clear plastic rear window. When the top is down, ( and by
the way it's power operated), a beautiful red snapped leather
tonneau covering matches the interior and looks fab. The
spectacular Cormorant hood ornament is nearly as large as the
rounded grille and is definitely a highlight on this rodder. The
car has been lowered and floats on 15-inch Ridler polished 5 spokes
wrapped in 215/75R15 rubber from the 2nd week of 2017. All very
sleek and cool right down to the P A C K A R D badge in
grandmother's handwriting on the rounded trunk lid.
Interior
A swing of this "floater's" doors blazes my eyes and shows in
raspberry red vinyl which is vertical tuck and roll. The power
window toggles reside on the door panels and we note the lack of
actuators as they require new hardware to be attached. A mini
armrest resides in the center. The interior offers up more
raspberry red vinyl bolstered and tweed broadcloth inserted low
back bomber style buckets. Between them is a boxy large center
custom console covered in the smooth vinyl. It has a huge storage
box and armrest, a duo of cup holders, and in a step up to the dash
is the Pioneer AM/FM/CD digital radio. Vintage AC and heat have
been put in and a few pulls and toggles are around the radio.
Moving up to the dash which has a band of eyeball vents peppering
the lower which is covered in red vinyl, then up to the original
dash which is full metal red jacket and it sports the original
radio and speaker covering. In front of the driver is a series of
VDO cream vintage looking gauges with black retro fonts and neat
pointers. There are small lights peppered about and a pull is also
here on the driver's side. A rally steering wheel fronts the dash
and is padded and wrapped in red vinyl and has 4 billet style
spokes to go with the billet on column shifter. The back seat is a
bucket style matching bench and is excellent. Red carpeting floods
the floors and some rubber ribbed floor mats protect it. An
excellent compliment to the exterior metallic pearl silver.
Drivetrain
Under the drivers side hinged hood in a fully restored engine bay
is a new 350ci V8 engine topped with a 4-barrel carb, and it has a
TH350 3-speed automatic tranny on back. This throws plenty of power
rearward to a 10 bolt rear axle. A new aluminum radiator keeps
things within temp range and no rust or corrosion is anywhere near
this engine or bay. Dual exhaust is on and Xlerator mufflers give
it a low gurgling growl as you float along and impress the
masses.
Undercarriage
Underneath is slight patinaed but not rust and plenty of tech added
in with C4 Corvette front suspension, and leaf springs for the
back. Power disc braking is on front and power drums for the rear.
The stamped steel floor tubs are rust free, and an X frame keeps
everything in line above it. Nary a drip on the bottom end.
Drive-Ability
Preparing myself for the drive-thru, it fired right up and off to
the test track first where it accelerated nicely, handed like a
dream, and gave me a ride like a smooth Buck Rogers rocket ship. At
McDonald's it was a head turner and cell phone cams were sprouting
like spring crocuses. The wipers work however there is no arm for
the passenger side so I refrained from the switch, and the power
window on the drivers side is off track a bit so I kept it
down.
If you want to arrive as a classy debutant, even at McDonald's, and
be the only person on your block with this model and
interpretation, all the while turn heads while you have a 1 car
parade down main street, then get on in here as this is THE car for
you. A wild interpretation but well done, and definitely a stunner
with some ass kicking class, and some modern conveniences.
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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.
