1931 Packard Model 826

Standard 8 Sedan

320 ci. 8 cylinder

Manual

463 4112

Clear

Gasoline

OVERVIEW: This is an original ‘full classic’ 5-passenger sedan which has had an older repaint and interior. The chassis and drive train is original and has not been previously restored. It is quite complete, although various small parts and assemblies are presently removed from the car and have been restored to a superior level by its current owner, a seasoned and meticulous collector and enthusiast. It remains as originally equipped, and is missing only a carburetor. The wood structure of the body and doors is still quite solid and sturdy. The only evident rust out is limited to the floor pan under the rear seat and the lower rear corners of the body tub, with no other damage evident. These cars rode on a 127.5” wheelbase and were powered by a 100 horsepower, 320 ci. L-head straight 8 cylinder engine, joined to a 4-speed transmission. They weighed in at 4,479 lbs. Total production of Model 826 Standard Eights was 6,009 units. This Packard carries Full Classic status with the Classic Car Club of America. Packard automobiles were built from 1899 to 1958. With a span of nearly 60 years, Packard was one of the longest running and most successful manufacturer of automobiles in America. Well known for its advertising slogan, “Ask the Man Who Owns One”, it had a solid reputation for building well engineered, and quality cars. The car has been in southern Alberta for the last 19 years with 2 owners during that time, both Packard enthusiasts, and in the hands of its present owner for the last 2 years. Prior to that it came from Saskatchewan, where it received a partial amateur restoration which was basically limited to paint and interior. The engine turns over easily on the starter, or hand crank. It has not been run since residing in Alberta, however, the Saskatchewan owner did drive the car. The current owner has located almost all of the missing or incorrect parts, and has properly restored many items for the car, most of which remain off the car, but of course will go with it. All extraneous components that were removed were glass beaded, or in the case of wheels sand blasted, and all powder coated to show standards. Though you will see various items not presently on the car as you scroll thru, this listing provides many more details of all those parts and what work has been done, followed by a link to a photo album of 215 detailed pics of the car and all associated parts. The car is being offered with a very low and reasonable reserve, mid 4-figures, a true bargain price, less than the cost of the few key things I’ll mention to start: 6 brand new “double” wide white Firestone 7.00x19 tires, current price $480.00 USD each - plus flaps and tubes. New gas tank fabricated as per original, $1,500.00 Hubcaps professionally restored and polished. Headlight buckets and rims redone in show chrome. Etc…, the list goes on. The current owner purchased an earlier Packard and decided not to continue with the restoration of this car. There have been no modifications from original done to this vehicle. It is a sound car with little body work required, much work done, and the difficult to find parts have been acquired. An excellent candidate for completion of its restoration given its originality, condition, and completeness. DRIVETRAIN: The engine is the correct original 320 ci. 8 cylinder, has 9 main bearings, and is rated at 100 hp. Engine number is 327616. It turns over freely, but has not been run recently. All other mechanical components are correct originals. The original and solid water jacket cover was sandblasted, powder coated black, and the exterior face painted the correct Packard engine green. With it removed you can see the usual rust inside the cooling areas of the engine and around the cylinders. There is no rust out or soft areas, and there were no excessive deposits of rust scale that often fill these areas and block coolant flow. The water pump has been properly restored by Flying Dutchman of Oregon. There are 8 new spark plugs, and a matched pair of new fan belts. The correct fan has been restored, along with the oil filler tube and cap. These cars used a mechanical fuel pump, which is present, no problematic vacuum tank. Original distributor and cap are present. Starter cover cap not on but is with the car. The carburetor is missing. It was sent out for restoration and never returned. A correct unit could be sourced, or there are a number of alternate carbs that would fit the application. The thermostatically controlled radiator shutters or louvers on the car are straight but one has a bullet hole. A good spare assembly was acquired and goes with the car. The rest of the drivetrain, transmission and rear end, are all complete, intact, and original. CHASSIS: The chassis, including steering, suspension, and mechanical brakes, is all original, intact and unrestored, and shows the road dirt and grime of its miles. The frame appears very solid and straight. The muffler and exhaust system are intact. When brought to Alberta, the transporter had cut the rear brake cables, but replacement cables were found and come with the car. The radiator has been professionally repaired and tested, is in nice condition, and re-installed. A new gas tank was custom fabricated and replicates the original, ready for finish coat and installation. Correct original gas cap included. There is a new set of 6 Firestone Deluxe Champion 7.00 x 19 tires with double-sided wide white walls. Double sided white walls are expensive and rarely seen. Four have been mounted on original disc wheels which have been sandblasted and powder coated, and had new liner flaps and tubes installed as well. The other 2 tires have not been mounted, but the 2 wheels for the spares have been blasted and powder coated, ready to have tires installed. Those 2 wheels have slotted holes to allow for leather straps to pass thru for mirrors that would mount on the spares. Wheel bolts were all cleaned and thread chased. Two other rims have been sandblasted and are extras, one with slots, one without. Five wheel cones have been blasted and powder coated black, ready for installation. A set of 4 correct hubcaps have been beautifully restored, not yet mounted. 2 correct spare tire chrome center caps are included as well. BODY & PAINT: There is no evidence of the car ever having sustained collision damage, and it appears to have had only one repaint. Overall it is a solid car, in terms of both wood structure and sheet metal. The only notable rust out on the car is the floor pan under the rear seat, and the lower outer rear corners of the body tub. The doors fit well with no droop or looseness on the hinges, not even on the most used driver’s door. The door bottoms are clean and without rust out, as are the rockers, bottoms of the front cowl, side aprons and fenders. Some light surface rust is seen along the bottom edges. The spare tire wells in both front fenders, and the battery box, are solid with no rot. The battery box lid can be seen in the pics laying on the left running board, that is not a step plate. The hood upper and side panels are extremely straight, as are the front and rear aprons, both side aprons above the running boards, both sides of the front cowl, and all 4 fenders and doors. Both running boards are very straight, along with the aluminum surrounding frame. They are also solid with no rot to either the flat sheet metal or underside brackets. The rubber is also good with no cracks or chunks missing. Apart from the aforementioned back end rust, there would be very little body work required prior to repainting the car. It was the current owner’s intent to take the car back to its original color, so the wheels were powder coated green and the body was going to be period correct dark green. The top fabric is fully intact, without any cracks, tears, or fraying around the edges. The surrounding retainer is nailed snug in place, with some signs of paint on it, so perhaps it’s all original. I’m not sure about that but it could well be since there are no signs that the retainer had ever been removed or bent. ELECTRICAL: The car retains its original 6-volt electrical system, wiring for the most part appears all original. There is no battery. The battery box located between the hood and right front fender well appears solid. The cover lid is laying on the right running board in the pics. All original dash instruments include a North East speedometer with trip odometer, temperature, oil pressure, fuel level, and ammeter gauges, with glass lenses intact. There is also a dash map light, retractable cigar light which still retracts, and ignition switch, but no key, which would be a basic Basco (Briggs & Stratton) key. There is no clock in the dash opening, but a nice one was found and is included. Dome light is in place with good lens. A correct horn has been restored, not installed. INTERIOR: The interior seat upholstery and door panels are an older redo, aged but not torn or frayed, and in what could be original patterns. Original upholstery was a plain grey wool with no pleats or tufting. Kick panels are present, glove boxes are aged originals, and there is only one glove box pull knob included. The rear seat arm rest plates were bead blasted and painted light grey, they should be woodgrained. The 2 slots on the right (lady’s) side are to accommodate a vanity mirror and make-up compact, which are not with the car. The slot and hole on the left (gentleman’s) side are for an insert, included, and a lighter, not included. Original wood graining on the dash is faded and aged. Upper dash and window moldings were repainted. The headliner is intact but badly stained. Dome light in place. All 4 door stop straps are in place. Left rear and front right sill plates are off the car but included. New reproductions are available. There is a rear seat robe rail with end brackets, not installed. Rear seat footrest is present, and the correct brackets were found and are included. Steering wheel is brittle and has been taped up, but a nice replacement is included. Horn button bakelite surround has chip but could be epoxy repaired. Control levers are intact. 2 new pedal pads from Steele rubber are included. There is an original Visionall vacuum wiper motor included, but will require restoration. Included with it are the arms, but no blades. This is the type where the wiper blades rest vertical and slide side-to-side across the windshield. The car retains all original outside and inside door handles, and window cranks. One exterior door handle and one quarter window crank handle are not on the car, but are included. All lock levers, latches, and other hardware is present. The owner has all 4 chrome plated lock lever knobs, 2 will be packed along with the car, the other 2 he can’t get to right now but will send them to the new owner when he has them back. All glass on the car is intact and not broken. All window regulators function up and down, but some are sticky and could use lubrication to fully function smoothly. BRIGHTWORK: The original chrome rad surround is without cracks or damage, but the chrome is starting to peel and there is just minor surface rust. Original 1931 only rad emblem in place, original rad cap as well as an extremely rare original crank hole cover are both included. Front and rear bumpers both present, original and straight, but not installed. Front bumperettes are off but included, along with the 3 front bumper irons and plates that hold them to the frame horns. Rears guards and irons are attached to the rear bumper, not mounted, retainer plates to hold to frame horns included. All 4 hood side latches are in place and very functional, although the catches that bolt to the rad shell are off, so only the rear latches currently latch. Head lamp buckets and rims are restored to show quality, 2 correct lenses present, and both reflectors, one restored and one original. Good bulb sockets and wiring included. Also included is a very rare pair of good fender lights, complete and intact with good lenses and the hard to find special mounting washers. Original tail lamp ready for plating, has both interior and exterior sockets, and there is a spare tail lamp body. Very nicely restored set of 4 hubcaps included, so the 2 on the car are spares, and 2 center caps for the side mount spares are included. A luggage rack is included along with the folding arms and brackets, but you’ll need to round up some basic bolts to assemble. There is one piece of trunk rack trim that will come with the car, in mint useable condition, a perfect pattern to make new ones from. SUMMARY: A parts book is included, and the owner has documentation and photos of an original ‘31 standard eight, and will share these with the new owner if wanted for the correct interior finish and exterior pin striping. The owner will wrap and itemize everything in the pictures, and pack them up in secure boxes. All fasteners and such for the removed items have been bagged and tagged for easy identification, as mentioned, he is a seasoned collector/restorer and understood the importance of this process when he removed items for restoration. This is a very affordable car to enter into the hobby with, or add to an existing collection. It is quite complete, original, and overall quite solid, key elements when choosing a project. These are the qualities that save time and money over the course of a restoration, or maintain a car’s value if simply kept as is. There should be no hidden secrets or horrors with this car. The basis is here for an easy, inexpensive, highly correct restoration. You won’t be spending years or tons of money trying to find missing parts, or performing extensive woodwork or rust repairs. If you are considering a full CCCA classic from the early 30’s era, then this could be it! If you’re not familiar with the engineering of Packards and their appeal in the past and present, there is a wealth of information available online, or through 2 large Packard clubs, the Classic Car Club of America, or the Antique Automobile Club of America. This Packard is being made available with an extremely reasonable reserve, with much allowance being made to cover international shipping considerations. The sole reason it is being offered is that the owner had located and acquired an earlier Packard to which he prefers to allocate his time and resources. PAYMENT TERMS:This full classic Packard is being listed on behalf of the owner. Please email ‘carsgoneby@telus.net’ or phone Rick at (403)534-2222 for additional honest and accurate information from a professional auto restorer. All information listed has been gathered from discussions with the owner and a visual inspection. A total of 215 pics are available for viewing at www.carsgoneby.com/PhotoAlbumsPro/1931Packard . Additional specific pictures are available upon request. No warranties expressed or implied. Successful bidder to make a minimum payment of 50% of closing bid amount (US funds) within 5 days of auction closing, with the balance payable upon vehicle pick up within 21 days (international) or 14 days (US/Canada). Payment must be in certifiable form such as cash or wire transfer. Other forms of payment only acceptable with time allowance for instrument to clear bank prior to vehicle being released. Any deviation from, or changes to the preceding terms must be reasonable, and should be requested, discussed, and agreed to prior to bidding and auction closing. IMPORTANT OTHER:Please submit all inquiries prior to bidding, and please only bid if you are able and willing to conclude the transaction should you be the winning bidder. This vehicle is being sold with a Bill of Sale only. The car is located in Mossleigh, Alberta, Canada, about 3 hours north of the Montana border. Please be aware of your shipping costs before bidding, quotes can be provided upon request if necessary. We can help make this a smooth, hassle free experience by arranging all-inclusive international transportation and brokerage for you. References relating to similar transactions are available. Cars Gone By has sold and shipped numerous collector vehicles to the USA and worldwide, the majority through Ebay transactions. Please do not ask us to disclose the reserve price. In fairness to all bidders we will not do so and request that you simply place a bid that is comfortable for you. Thanks for looking!