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 that accompany the
car, 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 about $5000. In 2019, the car was
delivered to D&D Classic Auto in Dayton, Ohio where 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, 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 today. 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 in excellent condition 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 once
it's warmed up, 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 50-55 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 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, owner's booklets, shop
manuals, and much, much more. Receipts and photos of all the recent
work at D&D are of particular interest, showing just how
extensively this car was serviced. Other extras include a large
cache of spare parts, including a spare generator, filters,
gaskets, and other useful items.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.
