1940 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 has been well preserved and repaired as necessary in the form of a 1940 120 Packard Touring sedan.  From the straight 8 under the hood to the overall solid body, upholstery, headliner, glass and surrounding moldings, it's all Packard styling and looks wrapped into a smaller more affordable car in this 120.

Exterior
With its tall vertical ribbed chromed grille, bullet style headlights, turn signal housings, double guard bumper additions, and a standard hood ornament leads the way on this clean and expensive looking automobile.  All surfaces are very nicely preserved bathed in Blackhawk Gray Metallic paint or chromed with a fairly shiny finish, and all is good.  A few slight areas of overzealous painting with some touch up, minor cracks in the paint, and a small area on the rocker and fender lowers show with some bubbling, but overall the paint is good.  A long side chrome vented trimmed hood makes its way back to 4 beautifully 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, as is the humpback trunk design which had a wonderful split rounded rear glass just above.  Thin oval tail lights are on either side and just below another fine curved bumper with a black Packard scripted badge in the center.  Like new 6.50-16 blackwalls wrap black steel wheels that have a nicely preserved dish center appearing on all 4 corners.

Interior
A swing of the doors and all are covered with a taupe/gray broadcloth which mixes some horizontal stitching throughout the panel.  These panels show some age wear and moth damage but retain their shiny handles and cranks with nicely aged bakelite knobs.  Inside, a big front bench with a smooth gray broadcloth slipcover shows little to no wear and in back another bench with stitched and tucked and rolled taupe cloth.  However this one offers up curved overstuffed armrests and plenty of rear legroom for the rear passengers to stretch out.  All seating floats upon a sea of ribbed black rubber matting, and is capped with a tan mohair headliner, nice and tightly preserved.  Up front the original dash in all its art deco styling and woodgrain covered metal splendor with ribbed horizontal trimmings frames the instruments.  In the center is an ashtray and several more bakelite knobs and buttons.  In front of the passenger is a round hole where a clock was once sitting within the glovebox door.   A heater box is noted below the dash, and the original steering column and large wheel is fronting the beautiful dash.

Drivetrain
Pulling upward on either side cowl 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.  This combination sends power rearward to a 4.09 geared rear axle.   This is 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 workings to it, and all is looking very structurally solid with a nice smattering of surface rust and patina.  Independent coil sprung front suspension with drum brakes are seen, and on back leaf springs with more drum brakes are strapped on.  A stock style single piped exhaust is on for the exhale and we're ready to drive this beauty.

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 1940's Packard sedan should.  We noted that the right turn signals did not function but the car can cruise at highway speeds easily and comfortably.

Years have gone by since the Packard Automobile Company closed its doors but this example of the craftsmanship and quality lives on and still shines and shows nicely.  It runs like a well-cared for car and shows a minute amount of slight rust in a few spots, but otherwise looking great.  The interior is comfortable and the car drives very smoothly.  As one would expect in a Packard....ask the man who owns one!

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 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.