1936 Packard 120 Sedan

Packard was never known for taking risks, and that's part of the marque's appeal today. The 120, which was smaller and less expensive than the senior Packard cars, was roughly equivalent to a Buick yet offered big car styling that's instantly recognizable. The tall grille with the Packard ridge at the top, long hood, and tasteful rounded bodywork all successfully blurred the lines between the 120 and its big brothers. The 120 was the car that saved Packard from the ravages of the Great Depression, and it turns out that they're some of the best-driving Packard's of all.

For consignment, a car which was restored in the past and now is showing its age, but still a good runner and a great looker, the 1936 Packard 120 sedan. This lifelong York, Pennsylvania car has been treated to new brakes, a new fuel tank, and a new battery and is ready to be taken to the next level to fully enjoy the Packard styling and looks, all wrapped into a smaller more affordable car in this 120.

Exterior
With its tall vertical ribbed stained chrome grille, bullet style headlights, teardrop turn signal housings, and single wide bar chrome bumper with guards along with the standard hood ornament/radiator cap leads the way on this large and expensive looking automobile. All surfaces are bathed in faded pale yellow paint and slightly tarnished chrome. A few slight areas of touch ups, minor cracks in the paint, and a small area on the left front wheel arch with some bubbling, overall paint is fair. A long side body matching vented trimmed hood makes its way back to 4 nicely aligned doors with a common latch pillar that float above the running boards which are attached by front and rear bulbous and curved fenders. In keeping with the lines, all the windows are rounded and this sweeping design carries over to the trunk which has a wonderful rounded rear glass just above. Small rounded taillights are on either side and just below another wide curved bumper with a Packard badge in the center and a foldable luggage rack just above. Wide whites wrap pale yellow steel wheels that have Packard badged dish center covers appearing on all 4 corners.

Interior
A swing of the doors and all are covered nicely with a smooth broadcloth which mixes with a carpeted lower section all in tan. Thick piping creates the illusion of an inner panel and is dressed with shiny handles and cranks are mounted on these panels and with all presenting in a worn but usable format. Inside, a big front bench in more tan with thin green striped broadcloth all being a very resilient material. In back another bench matching the front however this one offers up curved overstuffed armrests and plenty of rear legroom for the rear passengers to stretch out. All present in good condition with only a few small holes that one must search for to find. All seating floats in a sea of soiled tan carpet, and is capped with a tan mohair headliner, nice and tightly preserved. Up front the original dash in all its art deco styling and gray/brown painted metal splendor with embossed bezels framing the original white faced instruments. In the center are several bakelite knobs and buttons along with the ignition switch and ash receptacle. In front of the passenger is a round clock sitting within the glovebox door. A heater box is noted below the dash, and the original steering column and large wheel is fronting the wonderful dash.

Drivetrain
Pulling upward on either side cowling reveals the restored green painted 282ci inline 8-cylinder engine. A 2-barrel side draft carburetor is attached to the side, and a 3-speed manual transmission is on the back sending power to a 4.09 geared rear axle. This is believed to be the original drivetrain that came with the car right from the factory. Looking nice and clean with some patina under the long hood.

Undercarriage
A big solid X frame holds all the upper body and undercarriage working to it, and all is looking very structurally solid with a liberal coating of surface rust. Independent coil sprung front suspension with drum brakes are seen, and on back leaf springs with more drum brakes are strapped on. As mentioned earlier, the brakes have been gone through and the fuel tank has been redone.

Drive-Ability
This quasi luxury car, (although just like its larger kin, is beautifully appointed just not as large!), started right up and accelerated, stopped, and handled nicely as a 1930's Packard sedan should. All functions were operational at the time of my drive, and I even drew tons of stares and thumbs up making me feel like a movie star.

Many years have gone by since the restoration, and while mechanically solid, is due for a full blown restoration to take this car to concours level, this car deserves it. Runs like a well-cared for car and shows a minute amount of slight rust on that wheel arch, but otherwise looking good and solid. Interior is comfortable and the car drives very smoothly, as one would expect in a Packard. Cue up Billie Holiday and Tommy Dorsey, I'm gonna step out for a night on the town.

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.