Raymond Arsenault on Life and Business: Hemmings Find of the Day

Documented from new 1948 Packard Custom Eight Victoria convertible for sale on Hemmings.com. From the seller’s description:

This is a true, two-owner since new, 49,000 mile Custom Victoria Convertible. This is likely one of the lowest-mileage and best documented examples in existence. If you are looking for the best, this is it. This is a very important motorcar.

The original owners, Clem Storch and W.O. Jeffrey Jr. bought the Packard from Packard Motor Car Co. of Chicago, October 1947. (The original registration is included in the sale). Years later, when W.O. Jeffrey passed away, Clem had sole ownership of the motorcar.

Clem Storch enjoyed the car as part of his collection of cars that he bought new. He maintained it in its heated garage in Evanston, Illinois and accumulated about 25,000 miles over his 28 years of ownership. He sold it to its present owner, Ed Lane, in August of 1975. Mr. Lane drove the car from Chicago to his home in Phoenix, Arizona. The Packard was all original and in excellent condition.

Once the Packard was in Phoenix, Mr. Lane enjoyed the car. In 1978 he had the car repainted in its original Packard Ivory by Coulter Cadillac in Phoenix. The dash paint is original and matches perfectly. Much of the chrome was also re-plated. The car still looks wonderful today. The Packard has never had any rust. It was undercoated when new and has never been in the rain in the 41 years Mr. Lane has owned the car.

The interior has been redone, all in correct materials. The interior is done in correct Bedford cord fabric and leather and new carpet was installed in car and trunk in 2015. A new, correct haartz cloth top was installed in 1985. The top has been up just a few times since and is in pristine condition. The car has always been kept in a garage under a cover.

Mechanically, the Packard is in excellent condition, as one would expect of a low mileage, well-loved specimen. The hydraulic system was rebuilt in 1978, with several cylinders replaced. Everything works well except the radio and the clock.

The iconic 356 cu in straight eight engine has not been rebuilt and needs nothing. The parts that have been replaced include the radiator hose, water pump, voltage regulator, window cylinders, fuel pump, battery, shock absorbers, starter, hydraulic system window units, master brake cylinder, wheel cylinders, distributor, voltage regulator, etc. The three speed manual with overdrive work perfectly.

The only known items that would benefit the Packard are a complete detailing of the engine compartment, including painting the engine, components and firewall. Everything else is in exceptional condition.

All service and registration records from new are included in the sale of the car. There is one stack of receipts from Mr. Storch from his original purchase until 1975 and another stack from Mr. Lane from 1975 until today.

Also included are sales brochures, service manuals, owner manuals, etc. Also included is an original letter of appreciation from Packard dated January 16, 1948 from a senior sales manager of Packard and a letter from the original owner describing details of the car to Mr. Lane. I love the red leather pouch for the owner’s manual. I do not recall seeing one before. This is perhaps the best documented 1948 Packard convertible in extant.