My next project? 1921 Packard Coupe

3 minute(s) of a 548 minute read

For a change today I had to do some work on the Lagonda. Following the weekends motoring I had to remove the windscreen to have the glass replaced. for some unaccountable reason it had developed a crack from top to bottom right in front of the driver. Fortunately this was the only problem after about 450 miles of country roads on a wet and windy weekend. (It is early Spring here in the South East corner of Australia). After delivering the screen to have a new glass cut and fitted I managed to remove the Packard's trunk lid, remove the aluminum skin and re-glue and screw the timber frame. This will still need some more attention before the skin can go back on. The next step is the big one removing the skin from the entire rear section of the body (without destroying the timber frame in the process). It is interesting that all the panels are secured to the frame with small wood screws (at about two inch centers) rather than nails. The only place that nails are used is around the waist line where the original roof panel overlapped. This join was then covered with a aluminum beading.

9-16-2010

The more I do the more puzzled I become. Tim Martin from the Packard Twin Six Register assures me that Holbrook only built their Doctor's Coupe body on Packard Eight Chassis so who built these most unusual "purpose built" Doctor's Coupe bodies on the Single Six chassis????

The only real clues that I have to date are the method of attaching the ALUMINUM panels using countersunk wood screws. Having checked, the spacing of the screws is totally random! Varying between 2 inches to 2 3/4 inches, suggesting an hand built job.

The other is the numbers stamped into the timber rail inside the trunk lid and in other places around the body. See attached photographs.

Also attached is the drawing for the seating plan which indicates a special purpose design. the box at one side of the sear seat appears to have contained a sink. For the doctor to wash his hands in?

There appear to have been several of these coupes that have survived The final Photo is of one forwarded to me by Tim Martin taken of a similar car in Canada.

To my thinking it would seem unlikely that the Packard Factory would go out of their way to build such a single purpose car. If not them and not Holbrook who were the mystery coach builders? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Sorry! Here is the drawing mentioned above. The front passenger seat is a small folding arrangement with minimal upholstery. Note box at end of rear seat.

Who would go to the trouble to built such a specialized body?