American luxury reborn: a Packard saved

• 
• 
• 
• 

A steady supply of Packards found their way to England in the 1930s, appealing to those who wanted high performance and a Rolls-Royce level of luxury without necessarily being fussed about the costs involved with bespoke coachbuilding. By the 1960s, they were beginning to attract an enthusiast following, but for decades many were lost on the banger ovals. Others, like this 1938 Super Eight Touring Sedan, seemed to be well looked after in the custody of wedding fleets. The reality, however, was not always quite as it appeared…

Gaudy wedding paint aside, HPB 117 looked perfectly presentable when its restorer spotted it in an auction catalogue in 2015. What the photograph did not show were the swathes of filler covering holes in the metal, or the extent to which rot and woodworm had devoured the body frame. The catalogue assured bidders that the Packard had been ‘properly maintained by an in-house mechanic’, but most people’s definition of ‘properly maintained’ would exclude cars with a knackered big-end bearing, mismatched piston rings and an incorrect radiator core with a penchant for boiling.

The sick Packard languished until 2020, when the owner decided it was time to get stuck into it. After he single-handedly repaired the frame and panels, performed the necessary mechanical rebuilds, repainted it and reupholstered it – a three-year labour of love – you would never suspect the Super Eight had been through the wars. Zack Stiling reveals how it was put back on the road in the December issue of The Automobile, available now.

Words and photographs by Zack Stiling

Make a comment, ask a question, give your opinion, share additional information or start a discussion by filling in the fields below.