This 1947 Packard Custom Super 8, model 2106, is an excellent, authentic, and tour-ready car!

IMG_6020.

A spectacular car, in the correct, original colors of Coral Blue and Vanderbilt Grey. Note the cormorant mascot, the foglamps, and front bumperguard

IMG_6025.

The Custom Super 8 was the top of the Line, with 356 Cubic inch straight 8 – good for over 100 MPH when new, and more than enough to propel the car at freeway / interstate speeds today.  It has factory overdrive, a key feature that allows sustained high speed operation.  The Custom super 8 included luxurious interior features including individually wrapped seat springs, chrome steering column and parking brake handle, and front to back headliner seams and cloisonne enamel hubcap emblems in Packard’s signature hexagon style.  Radio and combination dash/underseat heater were standard.  Additional accessories on this car include the Cormorant mascot , roof mounted antenna, goddess of speed hood ornament, front and rear bumperguards, and fog lamps.

IMG_6028.

I love the foglamps, they work, too!

IMG_6032.

When I had it painted, I worked with the paint shop to get the colors exactly right – the correct tone and shade, as well as the correct amount of metallic.  The 1940’s paint colors had much less metallic than they do today,  so we had to reduce the amount of metallic to make it match the factory color chip exactly.

IMG_6029.

The fenderskirts are the icing on the styling cake!  The gas flap of course leads to the gas filler, which on these cars has a combination vent / whistle indicator.  When you’re filling the tank, it makes a slight whistle until it’s full, so you know when to stop without overflowing.  Packard was always thinking about how to make things better.

IMG_6030.

That Yosemite sticker was applied to this car at Yosemite!  It has been a fun, reliable tour car for us on the 2007 Arizona , 2008 Montana, 2009 California/Nevada, 2010 Pacific Northwest, 2011 New Mexico, and 2013 Rediscover America Caravan.   We drove it to and from each caravan, and always made it there and back with flying colors!   A program of constant maintenance and improvements made this reliability possible.  Before each Caravan, I would go through the car and identify things that needed maintenance, and then get that work done before the tour.  Over the years we’ve put in new correct wiring, radiator, and of course regular oil changes.  It has both mechanical and electric fuel pumps, and a hidden pusher radiator fan for super hot days.  We’ve driven this car over 10,000 foot mountain passes and across the burning desert, and always made it !  Most recently, the transmission and overdrive were completely rebuilt, and a new clutch and pressure plate installed, along with brand new American Classic whitewall Radials.

IMG_6745.

Here it is in Arizona in 2007

Caravan08 064.

there we are in Montana in 2008.

Caravan08 194.

A great car – got us there and back every time!

644 (800x532)

.

At the famous Wigwam hotel in Holbrook, Arizona.  Buy this car and make your own vacation memories!

CaravanBigCam 115 (800x533)

.

Taken from the window of this ’47 Packard.

738 (800x534)

.

In front of the Railroad station in East Ely, Nevada in 2013.

CaravanBigCam 370 (533x800).

Yosemite’s Half Dome in the distance, being surveyed by the Cormorant mascot on this ’47 Packard.

.

IMG_6033.

Back to the present – This view shows off the paint, and the brand new radial whitewalls, and new Hirsch Cloisonne hubcap emblems.

IMG_6045.

the seats are done in the correct pattern, with blue cloth and white textured piping, just like original.  The fabric is a modern fabric but very difficult to tell from wool.  The carpeting was done in wool cut pile, bonded to a heavy rubber backing, just like the original Moss-Tred carpeting.

IMG_6049.

I had the steering wheel re-cast with matching gearshift knob, They’re  absolutely beautiful.

IMG_6050.

The dashboard chrome is excellent. All of the guages work.  the speedometer was rebuilt, and works like it should.  Lights, horn, turn signals and wipers ( note – factory electric wipers ) all work properly.   However, the radio and clock aren’t working.

IMG_6052.

In this view you can see the  working dash / defroster heater unit.  the underseat heater is not visible but it’s there.

IMG_6057.

The woodgraining on the window surrounds is the original, and shows some age.  The dash was redone before I got the car, and shows a couple hairline cracks on the upper surface.

IMG_6046.

Courtesy lights work great!

IMG_6059.

Nicely trimmed trunk.  the trunk floor is solid and rust free, but it was replaced with new sheetmetal at some point. The rest of the car is nice and solid.

IMG_6041.

What a great looking car!