1937 Packard Coupe For Sale "Ask the Man who Owns One" This 1937 Packard model 115 Business Coupe is a miraculous "Survivor Car" As you look at these images keep in mind that what you see here is all original. When I say "original" I don't mean that it is just stock and unmodified I truly mean that what you see here is ALL original. The paint the interior everything except the tires and battery and general maintenance items are original. The car has 29500 documented original miles and the full history of the car is known. A California car since new always garaged and kept indoors this car has had a couple of long periods of hibernation that have preserved it amazingly well. It is phenomenally solid and rust free and it is a very good runner and driver. The body is not without flaw this is 78 year old paint here and there are quite a few chips and scratches and a few dings even a couple of spots where the paint is just starting to wear thin but all of this gives that true originality vibe that is just fantastic to see. Just the most mild "patina" yet impressively well preserved. At a recent Packard event here in Southern California it was truly a crowd pleaser. The "Business Coupe" body style is gorgeous such lines and style. They truly don't build them like they used to! The car obviously shows very well and while not "perfect" it has a very presentable appearance to it inside and out and when people realize that it is completely unrestored they are shocked. How did this car stay so nice? The paper trail and documentation on this car is as impressive as the car itself. From the original California title to WW2 fuel ration tags and use tax stamps...it is all here. The car was bought new in Hanford California and remained in the general area its whole life. This photo taken in 1968 of the car shows it during it's longest hibernation period. It was parked in 1954 through 1979 by the original owner. When the owner parked it the mileage was just 24163 miles These pics show the 1954 plate tag in place. This receipt for a lamp adjustment inspection in 1941 is pretty cool This receipt from 1949 shows the mileage at 23404 and documents a significant service as well as the tailoring of a seat cover that helped preserve the original seat upholstery so well throughout the decades. An assortment of California registration slips is also in the file. The car was sold to the second owner in October of 1979 to this gentleman. He put a lot of effort and money into getting the car fully operational after it's 25 years of sitting. He kept the car for a number of years and as of the date of this photo in December 1990 had run the mileage up to 28114. All the receipts from the second owner's service are here in the file He had the car appraised in March 1990 when it had 28782 miles and a value of $25000 was established. The car changed hands to it's third owner in 1993 who drove it sparingly and kept it in his collection. It spent a fair bit of time just hibernating again safe out of the elements. The second owner did leave his mark...etching his name and date of purchase in the cowl as well as the firewall. The car sat in the third owner's private collection for many years and was dusty and needing detailing when I got a hold of it a few months back. The paint was a bit dry and slightly faded and I don't think anyone had ever truly attacked it to deeply polish the paint. The finish came back to an incredible shine...the original lacquer is stunning. The chrome polished up a bit as well but the bumpers do have some fade. The body had a couple of brush touch ups here and there that were carefully massaged and the only spot where it looks like there may have been any real paintwork is a small blend area at the back of the right rear fender down low. Close inspection of the body shows clearly that it is all original finish other than the above mentioned small touch up spots. There are no masking lines or signs that anything has ever been apart on the car the original body seals and gaskets and all are still intact...some are a bit dry from age but the car has obviously never been restored. Of course in these photos as the light is soft in the late afternoon it truly looks flawless. In bright sun or under fluorescent lights you can see the little chips and scratches and wear spots. It is still impressive at any time of day...but like any dark colored car...they look better in the shade. The color of this car by the way is a very very dark blue...not black. The soft top material is still the original. The edges have had a little sealing done to them somewhere along it's past. This corner of the body is the only spot where I have seen signs of painting and it is just a small blend spot behind the rear wheel which starts below the taillight along the side. The match is good it was obviously done many many years ago but a keen eye in the right light will pick it out. The little white spots on the reflection in this same area are scratches in the paint...the tops of the taillight housings have faded a bit. The body is fantastic though overall...it really looks nice. There are notable dings and scuffs on pretty much every fender...but for being 78 years old she really looks amazing. The running board rubber is dry and cracking. You can see a couple of the scratches in the paint in this pic too...the bottom of the door etc. There very top ridge of the fender the paint has gently worn thin...I personally think it is lovely a car like this is only original once and it would be a crime to do anything but continue its preservation. The original pinstriping has just a couple spots where it too has worn just a bit but overall it still shines bright. The matching pinstripes on the wheels are ever so cool. The Guide fog light is still functional and has been on the car since new or close to it. Grille is excellent The "radiator cap" is just for style...the filler is under the hood but the design harkens back to the earlier days. The cap on my 1932 Packard has the same design. The shut lines and gaps are fantastic on the body. The quality of the construction of these cars is just amazing. They were built by craftsmen. The engine room too is completely untouched and unrestored. With the exception of hoses plugs and wires this is all the original stuff. It runs very smooth and drives fantastic. Further detailing could happen in here if you wanted to spend some time but it really shows quite nice as is. Impressively clean overall and everything is totally intact. Original body tag...sold new in Hanford stayed in nearby Porterville until 1979 then to Bakersfield for the next two owners now in southern Riverside County... every spot has been a perfect climate to keep rust away and with indoor storage its whole life the sun has not eaten away at it either. That and fanatical owners that respected the car and its originality has kept it in such great shape. The wheels are all original paint as well and have the original pinstripes and caps. Tires are probably 35+ years old but still roll round and smooth and show well. You can see in the reflection on this image a couple of dings and wiggles in the metal. Never any true collision damage just parking lot bumps and scuffs etc. The lines of the body are amazing. The interior is also amazingly well preserved. I have not attempted to clean or scrub any of the upholstery in the car it is all just as-found. The armrest has some wear and there is a little discoloration to the material but if you have the guts enough to try it...this may all clean up quite a bit! The seat cushions had been covered by the tailored seat cover since 1949 but the edges of the seat frame were left exposed so they have some edge wear. Amazing overall condition though throughout the whole interior. Headliner is excellent Steering wheel is gorgeous the dash is very nice as well. The rubber floor mat too is in great shape (that is a car duster on the floor in this shot by the way...) Fantastic dash Mileage at the time of the photos...29499.5 ... it rolled over to 29500 as I pulled in the driveway. Very rare original radio which actually fired up and worked! The speaker unit under the dash in in great shape. Electrically everything seems to work well on the car. In this shot you can see the radio speaker peeking out under the dash. Another thing of note is that the roll up windows in both doors have delaminated and discolored. I didn't want to mess with the originality of anything on the car so I left them but I do think they should be replaced. They roll up and down smoothly and the vent wings crank open and close with the small window crank. 78 year old cloth upholstery that looks this good? Amazing! What a pretty machine She has a pretty backside...don't you think? The trunk too is very well preserved and all original stuff. No signs of any rust or repairs on this car at all...incredibly solid. Original jack and tool roll still in the corner. Original rubber in the platform above the spare Fantastic Goodyear spare...possibly original? Wheel has a hubcap as well A small wood crate with a few spare parts is in the back This is an original accessory bug guard for the grille Wood framework under the trunk lid...very solid. Wow The underside is all original and untouched and very very dry and solid. New battery Not a big leaker either...look at how dry it is underneath! All the inner fender areas are solid...no rust in the "splash zones" The car is a one of a kind find. Fantastic documentation all original and preserved so well. I think it would be pretty tough to find another one of these in this shape that has never been restored. A car like this is a very special thing. They are only original once and the look feel touch and smell can never truly be equalled with a restored car. They are only original ONCE! The car is available for inspection at any time feel free to call or email with any questions. 951-767 -1600 oldbug@earthlink.net The reserve price is set very low and the bidding will set the final price. Please place your bids and see where it lands...I do not have a "buy it now" number. Thank you for your interest and good luck to you with the bidding!