Got nothing: ’38 Packard “House Car”
Help us. We must admit to being stumped by this one. We couldn’t find much information about this alleged Packard. Maybe it isn’t officially called a “house car” as that is a pretty lame name. It does look like a Packard though. The seller says it is rare and in original condition. He also states they have sold for six figures somewhere. It is said to have a restored straight 8 engine so at least we know it has a motor. We went to the Packard Club Forum for help but all we could find were references for Henney Custom bodied cars. These were in very limited production with nearly hand-built bodies. Annual production in the late 30s at Henney was around 1000-1200 units of all styles and models, of which maybe 100 or so would have been “senior” 160 or 180 models. Who knows, it may be worth $35,000 asking price. Click here to contact the seller.
I have a friend who has a 1937 12-c “House Car” (Motorhome) that has 40K miles. Outstanding original condition. Located in Gardena, A USA
I have been in touch with the seller; he advertised it on eBay as a 1935 Packard motorhome. It appears that it was built on a 1937 120 commercial chassis. The listing closed with no bids. In replying to one of the comments on eBay, he said research had been done by the “proper people” and that they knew who and where the body builder was, but he didn’t say any more than that. It’s just a guess, but I think the body may have been built by a bus builder, possibly Crown Coach in Los Angeles. When I spoke to him on the phone, he said that it was built for well known Packard dealer and distributor Earle C. Anthony, who also started a line of service stations called “Chevron” and started and owned KFI radio. I hope to go see the car when he gets back from extended business trip. I’m not really interested in buying it — it’s a bigger project than I want to take on, both in scope and sheer size. But I am a member of both Packard clubs and I can him get an ad and photo in the club journals, and perhaps some other P.R trying to ftnd more info about it in xchange for an opportunity to see it close up. So far, I haven’t turned up anything on the web.