1941 Packard 160 - $124,900 - Orange Village, OH - Frame-off restoration completed in 2009, driven lightly since. Handsome maroon with tan leather interior and top. A powerful, reliable CCCA Classic that’s the ultimate tour car.
This 1941 Packard 160 convertible coupe is one of the best driving Packards of all. With thoroughly modern brakes, suspension, and that wonderful 356 cubic inch engine, it embodies Packard’s finest engineering. Judging by the condition of the underbody and trunk pans, this was quite likely a solid original car, and the bodywork it received during the restoration is exceptional. Gaps are tight, the panels are flat enough to use as mirrors, and the paint is about a mile deep. The color is a deep, rich burgundy, befitting a car of this stature, yet sporty at the same time. Most of the chrome has been restored, including the upright Packard grille, bumpers, cormorant hood ornament, and stainless body trim, but other details such as the side grills appear to be original, indicative of this car’s outstanding condition.
The luxurious interior is lined in glove-soft light tan leather expertly stitched in original patterns. With complementary tan carpets and bright maroon plastic inserts in the dash, it ties the car together wonderfully with a traditional combination that will never go out of style. The steering wheel is beautifully recast in tan plastic that is surely worlds more durable than the original stuff, but the red dashboard trim pieces appear to be original, again suggesting that this car was exceptionally well preserved before the restoration. Overhead there’s a fitted tan canvas top stretched over a fully restored and chrome plated top frame, and it folds into its well with the touch of a button. The trunk is fully finished in matching tan carpets that have been artfully bound and likely fit even better than the originals.
Under that long, 2-piece hood lives a fully rebuilt 356 cubic inch straight-eight. It starts quickly and easily thanks to an electric fuel pump upgrade, and it idles almost noiselessly. On the road, it pulls with the urgency of an electric locomotive, with almost vibration-free operation that was a Packard hallmark and one of the 356’s strongest attributes. The engine bay has been nicely detailed with correct Packard Green on the block, a massive oil bath air cleaner, and proper accessories, including the Auto-Lite generator. Exact reproduction wiring harnesses with cloth insulation have been used throughout, and all the lines, hoses, and fasteners appear to be new. The 3-speed manual transmission shifts easily without the need for double-clutching, and the big engine loafs along at highway speeds without apparent effort.
There is a growing group of enthusiasts for whom these are the ultimate Packard. With Full Classic status, modern performance, and handsome, sophisticated styling, these are quite possibly the ultimate tour cars, and they are welcome on virtually any show field in the world. Representing the last of the great Packards, this lovely 160 convertible coupe is open-air motoring at its finest.
For more information and 80 additional photos, please visit www.VintageMotorCarsUSA.com.
