Vehicle Description
Awesome one-of-none wagon built based on Packard factory sketches.
Real wood bodywork, cool western-themed interior, functional
tailgate. 327 cubic inch straight-8 with Ultra-Matic automatic. A
very cool '50s wagon that will always stand out in a crowd! This
awesome Packard wagon was built about 15 years ago by an
enterprising Packard enthusiast in Eureka, California. It is
obviously based on factory sketches and advertising of the period
and the story board that accompanies the El Paso suggests that all
three Packard 'dream cars' pictured in the sketches were built at
the same time, and it obviously took a lot of time, money, and
skill. Based on a top-of-the-line Packard Patrician sedan, skillful
woodworkers created a beautiful real wood body that emulates the
construction of actual factory-built woodies?no stick-on veneers
here. The superstructure above the beltline, including the roof, is
all steel with clever woodgrain painting to help it blend
seamlessly with the real wood below. They even fabricated a custom
steel roof, complete with roof rack, and a brilliantly clever
tailgate that's fully functional, just as if the factory did it. We
suspect that it was built in the 1990s, so the paint is probably 30
years old, but it's holding up nicely with a great shine and no
real signs of coming undone?the sheetmetal underneath is in great
condition with no evidence of half-hearted bodywork. The
Patrician's chrome fender ornaments and stainless steel spears made
the transition intact, and the chrome mini-fins on the quarters are
the perfect '50s touch. If you didn't know better, it would be easy
to believe this was a factory-built wagon. The interior is a funky
mixture of tan Naugahyde and cow-print fabrics that reinforce the
El Paso' s western theme. And yes, that's how it was in the
sketches so it was faithfully re-created here and looks great. The
rest of the front seat area is standard Packard, with a simple
dashboard housing three round gauges, all of which appear
operational. There's also an AM radio in the center of the dash
(not operational, which isn't surprising) and heater controls just
to the right of the steering column. Durable low-nap carpets are a
great choice in a wagon that might see some outdoor work and
sitting on the long 127-inch wheelbase, there's expansive room in
the back seat as well. The custom cargo bay is neatly finished with
matching carpets and that cow-pattern fabric for just a bit of fun,
and you can see that the detailing on the tailgate and D-pillars is
very OEM. The spare tire remains in its original location with no
rust issues in the well underneath and the matching headliner is in
great condition. Packard's durable and eminently smooth 327 cubic
inch straight-8 provides plenty of torque to get the big wagon
moving and keep it comfortable at modern highway speeds. It's
nicely detailed with correct gray engine enamel, a big oil bath air
cleaner, and a variety of decals to help it look OEM. Power
steering is included, so the big wagon is easy to handle even in
tight spots, and there's a big radiator up front. It starts easily
and generally works like it should with the 2-speed Ultra-Matic
automatic transmission providing unobtrusive shifts. The
undercarriage and floors appear to be original, suggesting that
they chose a clean, solid, original car for the build and there are
no nasty surprises hiding underneath. The frame is unmodified and
is robust enough to handle wagon duties, and it's been outfitted
with new shocks so it rides nicely. Big drum brakes feel confident
on the road and original steel wheels wear Packard hubcaps and
recent 225/75/15 wide whitewall radials for superior ride and
handling. Documentation includes a variety of show boards
advertising the El Paso and its siblings, the Parisian and the
Pacifica. It also includes a set of cowhide print pillows, just for
fun. The more we look, the more we like this Packard wagon. The
craftsmanship sure looks like the factory could have built it, and
the clever engineering is far better than most one-offs. Add the
warmth of real wood, the appealing western-themed interior, and
traditional Packard road manners, and you get a car that does
everything well. It will always draw a crowd and has a fantastic
story to tell, so you'll enjoy owning and showing it. Call today!
Harwood Motors always recommends and welcomes personal or
professional inspections of any vehicle in our inventory prior to
purchase.
