1936 120 Classic?

Yes, all Darrins are, and there are several other custom built bodies on 120 chassis that have been "approved."

The owner has been trying to unload that beast for a very long time. The price keeps dropping but he hasn't found any takers. Yes, there a few 120s that have custom bodies that are Full Classics recognized by CCCA.

Here's the ad:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayIS...p;category=6389

I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think I'd rather have a *non*-classic 1936 120 than this <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />!

Cecil,

I agree. I guess it's uniqueness gives it some sort of appeal? <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Even Hibbard could have a bad day I suppose.

Makes you wonder what the customer/designer was smokin' THAT day? eh? <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

I beleive you have to individually apply for full classic status with these cars they arent automatically approved. Last time I checked there was only one 120 on the register.

Shawn

I also like the "projected value" when restored. who would ever pay that much for a 120, and secondly restoring it could cost quite a bit so it looks like a losing proposition to me!

Shawn

It says it sold for $19,600 and some change. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Amazing!

"restoring it could cost quite a bit"

Yeah, I can imagine finding a replacement gun turret will not be an easy task <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

All kidding aside, from an historical perspective, I can see why it would be worth saving. But for those of us who can only have so many cars (<img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />), we have to be a little more choosy about where we throw our money.

This car was approved by the Classification Committee in 1997. While the chassis, a 120, is a non-classic, the coachwork would be considered "meritorious", hence the acceptance as Full Classic. Over the past few decades the Club has approved about a dozen 120 Packards with custom coachwork and at least 2 on the six cylinder chassis. A number of other non-classic chassis with custom coachwork have been approved as Full Classic, and they continue to show up.

Tom Hibbard lived out his retirement here in Maine, and I got the chance to speak with him several times. While he did not refer specifically to this car, he had mentioned that his designs were sometimes "adapted" by the purchaser for different chassis or otherwise altered to suit the owner's personal preferences. One of his last designs was a replica body on a 20's Rolls-Royce. I don't recall if it was a late Ghost or a PI. His drawings showed a gracefull open body sometimes refered to as a "toast rack". There were no doors fornt or rear, and no weather protection. It was reportedly an adaptation of a design for an Indian Maharajah. Unfortuntaley, in the execution, the owner did not wish to spend the money or time to follow the design closely and the result was a very "homemade speedster" looking affair. I am hopeful that the new owner of the 120 Packard will do wonderful things with it and we will all be proven wrong when we see it in its restored splendor.

Jon Lee

thanks for the clarification, Jon. So I am right then that these cars have to individually apply for full classic status? Personally I like this car but for a hundred grand can think of a few other packards i would buy instead.

Was not really meaning to criticise this car it is fine, just the arbitrary projected values people place on things. Value is determined by supply and demand, pretty difficult to project.

Shawn

If I'm not mistaken, Ed Hermann owns a coachbuilt 120 that the club recognizes, and is a lot more graceful looking than the car we've been discussing.

Mike

Shawn, I must apologize if my message sounded like I was getting on you for criticizing the Hibbard Packard. My intent was to show that styles were(are) not necessarily related to "good" or "bad".

As you make mention, the Classification Procedures permit the consideration of non-classic chassis with custom coachwork. In addition to small Series Packards other usually non-classic chassis that have been accepted include, Buick 60 series (2), 70 series (1), 80 Series (4); Chrysler Royal (1); Ford (1); Hudson other than Model L, (7); Lincoln Zephyr (3); Mercury (1); Oldsmobile (1), plus a number of foreign makes.

On the Packard owned by Ed Hermann, I think that was a Graber bodied car, and it was approved some years ago prior to Ed's ownership. I believe he has since sold the car as it has not been listed in the Roster for several years. It was a very attractive car with very nice proportions for the smaller chassis.

Jon Lee