I am a fickle lover of cars. If I were rich enough, I’d have a new car every day, which probably explains why I don’t have any old cars except my work truck. And my love for today would be this 1958 Packard (“Packardbaker”) hardtop coupe which was posted in a comment today by its owner Robert Murray. And how many folks would recognize it? Better yet, take off the Packard badging and then really keep folks guessing.
It looks like one of those “anonymous cars” that were airbrushed or photoshopped for an ad. The one really big Studebaker tell-tale is that windshield surround.
I’d probably go with a blue Tesla Model S. Just saw one at the grocery store and thought it looked pretty good.
Yes, my instant choice exactly. For some reason Teslas have a presence in person that just doesn’t come through a photo. I’ve been an electric car nut my whole life, and this car is that dream come true. I get a kick out of the electric Fiat I’m currently driving, but there’s no excitement that even approaches the real Tesla.
Though I must say that is the most lust-inducing photo of a Packard I’ve ever seen. You couldn’t find a better background for that car and its color.
I hear you, Edward. Sure the interior quality isn’t great and there’s a feature or two missing but the engineering brilliance of these can’t be overlooked, nor can the blistering performance and the overall cool factor.
Just got home from running an errand, and spotted a 2013 or 2014 Grabber Blue GT500 done with only the rocker panel stripe. It didn’t have the typical twin Shelby stripes across the top, but had the panel silvered between the taillights. Very subtle for a Shelby Mustang. So let’s just go with that. Although the one below looks like a Boss, it was a picture I created a few years ago with Ford’s “MustangCustomizer” app. The car I just saw 1/2 an hour ago had the same wheels and was the same color….
Would have to be a 67 Cutlass 442. Newer car would be a Dodge Charger F8 Green SRT Hellcat
Business Coupes from around the war years always catch my eye. I’m actually going to look at a vehicle tomorrow that may answer this question.
I’ve mentioned this to a few people, but these days I am casting my eye about at ten year old Mustang convertibles. My son has graduated from high school and is away at Camp for the next 14 months, and I have a couple of road trip ideas that require a convertible with a bit more room than a Miata or Sprite.
Forget a 10 year old Mustang. This is the “old type” horse you want to ride.
2019 Cadillac Escalade and 1992 Cadillac Fleetwood.
Paul, seeing your choice of the “Packardbaker” a.k.a. “Stupackard”, perhaps you would be intrigued by its visual challenged british cousin, the comely(?) Daimler Dart SP250 as your next choice. At least the Daimler had a light, sprightly, Turner designed V8 under its bonnet instead of a heavy boat anchor Packard V8, somewhat compensating for its appearance.
I’ve been intrigued by them since I first encountered one as a kid. I was a bit shocked, but I read up on them an realized that they had a lovely little hemi under the hood, which looked just like a scaled-down Chrysler hemi.
But I can’t seem to muster any love for them nowadays. That Packardbaker coupe really grabbed me! And btw, it has a 275 hp supercharged 289 Studebaker V8 under its hood, not the Packard V8.
My bad, I mistakenly thought that this last series of Packards ( with a Studebaker chassis) had the Packard V8 ( 374 c.i.d. version wgt 705 lb ready to run) which incidentally wasn’t that more weighty than the heavy Studebaker V8 (289 cid version wgt 695 lb with flywheel). For comparison the ’55 Chrysler 392 Hemi weighed 735 lbs and the ’59 Cadillac 390 V8 weighted 699 lbs.
So you corrected my pitiful, long term misconception about the final 57-58 Packards which now I must admit were really just more powerful Studebaker Presidents with a supercharged 289, likely making the engine actually heavier than the Packard V8. I have learned, and stand corrected.
Also the Packard V8 has been unfairly termed a boat anchor by many, as I did here, though its weight was really similar to other V8’s, especially the smaller displacement Studebaker 289 and actually lighter or similar to the Chrysler and Cadillac V8’s. So not so much of a boat anchor, it seems.
At least Turner’s little hemi-head Daimler V8 was a dainty masterpiece in comparison to the Packard and Studebaker V8’s weighing 419 lbs in its 2.5 liter version and the larger 4.5 liter version weighed 498 lbs.
In comparison the venerable Jaguar 6 cylinder 4.2 liter (256 c.id.) six cylinder cast iron block/aluminum head XK engine’s reported weight was 604 lbs, and thus not that much lighter than the cast iron American V8’s, especially given its displacement.
The misunderstand may well come from the fact that the 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk used the Packard 352 V8, also rated at 275 hp. But with the closing of the Packard plant at the end of ’56, the Packardbakers had no choice but to use the blown Stude 289. And you’re quite right; the Studebaker V8 was porky thing.
If money were not an object this.
I purchased a 2005 GT, 5 speed convertible in February. I love it. However I would dump it tomorrow for a 62 Parisienne rag top.
You guys are making me wish my ‘07 was a convertible!
That’s why God made sawzalls!
“wish my ‘07 was a convertible!”
If it makes you feel any better, your coupe looks better than a convertible with the top up. Mikey and DougD both chose top-down pictures for a reason ;-).
The roofline of the Mustang coupe is one of the best things about the car
I just need a convertible for the road trips
My pining for old British cars aside, I’m having a flirtation with the current Maserati lineup. Heard one rumbling through a parking lot the other day and was smitten. Never going to own one, but a guy can dream.
‘84-‘87 Grand National ( yes I’ll even take a hot air ‘84-‘85). I had a dream just last night that I had one and was fish tailing all over town in it. I was disappointed to wake up 😉
An older gentlemen around the corner from me has one, ‘86 I think, and almost never gets it out of his garage. I was walking by when he was washing it about 2 months ago, and he offered to take me for a ride. I hopped right in. Yeah, I was lusting for that one that day. Neat car. Closest I ever got to driving one of those was my Dad’s ‘85 Grand Prix. Yeah, the 3.8L is not the same without the boost.
Never ridden in one. That must have been fun. I owned a hot air ‘84 Designer Series T for a bit that I bought sight unseen off eBay but it turned out to not run and have a bad motor and rusted through floor pans so I parted it. Been still wanting one ever since.
I’m a long time British sport car guy and still have one. But, for some reason I keep thinking of hot rods, especially early 50s GM. Maybe something like this.
1965 Corvette Sting Ray roadster 327, 300 HP, 4 speed Muncie transmission. Or any other C2 Vette.
I always have a soft spot for the 1949-51 “shoebox” Fords. My brother and I were reminiscing the other day about his ’49 that we rebuilt the engine in. That flathead six twisted out a surprising amount of torque.
Here’s the brochure page for your “lust object”. I wrote a little about it on flickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/147108383@N02/38864432660/in/dateposted-public/
Easy!
As a daily driver a Bristol Blenheim
I like the earlier version of the Bristol Blenheim…
Just like I’d rather be driving THIS Mustang, Ed ?….
Make mine a 4 door.
I have a thing for superannuated cars. I used to have pipedreams of buying a new MGB or Mini shell and building one to my spec. I’d love to go to the Morgan factory and order a 4/4, but for a few years the object of my automotive lust has been closely related to that Blenheim.
Shortly before they went bust, Bristol were offering remanufactured 1960s 411s which had gone back to the factory and been rebuilt, no expense spared, using a lot of Blenheim parts, new engine & box etc. Essentially a brand new car. I want to like the Blenheim but I hate the tacky way they “modernized” it. It reminds me of the last Tatras and Volgas. A 1980s Britannia would be fine.
The Blenheim would be the daily driver, then I would top up with a 1964 Bristol 408 with a period correct 426 Ram Charger engine -that would be fun!
Paid a visit to 368 – 370 Kensington High Street in 2008 with my 10 year old son at that time, just before Bristol closed dow. Told the salesman that I never would be able to buy a Bristol, but wanted to show my son the best car in the world. We left the sales room after 4 hours, knowing everything about Bristols and in particular the Blenheim and the mighty Bristol Fighter T with 1027 hp.
The Ram Charger engine, wonder if it fit in a Bristol engine bay?
A Miata. Definitely a Miata.
It’s kind of interesting, when I was in my 20s and early 30s I’d look at a sports car and think “That’s the sort of car a teeneager would choose. I want a real grownup’s car.” And so I bought nice, practical cars like Corollas. Now that I’m in my late 30s my thinking has changed and at some point I decided “I’ve been practical long enough. My next car’s going to be something fun. I don’t care how it looks to other people.” And I decided my next car is going to be a Miata.
Go for it! They’re great cars; wish I’d held onto mine.
+1
Get a nice early one before they’re all locked in a garage or stripped down for spec racing.
65 GM big-body car, either Olds 98 or Cadillac of some sort, preferably 4 door in a light silvery-green. Stone stock, nice clean daily driver but not so nice that I’d be afraid to park it at Kroger’s.
Barring that, a nice early 60s Studebaker Lark or mid 60s Rambler…little boxy 4 door of some sort.
That’s an easy call for me. A ’65 Buick Riviera Gran Sport with a dual-quad Nailhead.
That’s my pick also….The third year of the first generation with the hidden clamshell headlights, the “ventless” rear fenders and the long elegant horizontal tailights….The best of the best Bill Mitchell’s designs.
I am like you. My flavor of the day changes, well, daily.
Today and today only: A 52 Commander hardtop, V8/OD.
Oops, time’s up. Now I want a 1949 Frazer. This 1949 Frazer.
Unless this 1960 Town & Country would happen to be available. It is hot outside and the front/rear air would be most welcome.
This is a dangerous game for me.
Although I’m mostly a fan of Cadillac’s tailfins, most especially 1960-64, I love the 1960 Chrysler’s.
Is that Scott’s Frazer from Cold War Motors?
That was mine until I saw that Packard. But I’m beginning to swing back to the ’52. It was a short-lived crush. 🙂
1969 Dodge Daytona Charger, black with white stripe over the wing. Black interior with four-speed transmission and, of course, the hemi engine. Not that I’ve given this much thought or anything.
Jaguar XJ-C V12. Choice valid until 08.00 tomorrow morning, when an Alfa or Citroen may well replace it.
I feel adventurous today, so I’ll go with a Jeep CJ Renegade
There are so many choices being as how I like most all cars it is a very tough question. Yet, seeing as how I was besieged with questions on Wednesday when I brought the car in for new WSW tires, and how very familiar I am with how the car drives, and would want to have pure unadulterated fun in driving it would be this vert instead of my coupe.
Today it would be this 62 mercury wagon. Love the way the roof floats over the massive greenhouse, with A, B, C and D pillars trimmed out in chrome.
After seeing that red Chrysler wagon I was going to say a late 50s 2 door hardtop Mercury wagon. Or the same vintage Mercury wagons but the top of the line model with wood paneling on the outside. My favorite is the 59, but I would accept a 57 or maybe a 58 as a substitute.
A further runner-up would be a 57 Edsel Roundup wagon with 2 tone paint, like the red/white picture from about a week ago.
1975 Cadillac Fleetwood 75 limousine
Today?
1978 Dodge Magnum 400 Big Block with buckets, Center Console and Tach.
Sorry, can’t do a ’79- 1978 was the last year of the Big Block B-body.
There was a black/red interior ’79 Magnum in this week’s episode of Elementary—not something I expected to see, but I was happy about it just the same.
My current fetish is a Citroen DS “Goddess”. I’ll take a late model with the 2 liter engine, and the air conditioning and daily drive it till it breaks (me)
Wow, thank you Paul for featuring Flo on Curbside Classic! I’ve been her caretaker since a 2002 eBay bid brought her into my life. She’s currently getting a very thorough and necessary refurbishment that makes absolutely no financial sense but was absolutely necessary to keep her on the road. Someone had to do it.
As far as taking the badges off and trying to guess what it is, I’ve gotten really good at lip reading “Oh, it’s a Packard”. Virtually no one knows what it is, except for an incredible percentage of homeless people in San Francisco who astonish me with their knowledge. I got a parking ticket once that had the license plate number and then VIN: unknown MAKE: misc. COLOR: misc. I didn’t pay it.
Flo in April:
Oh my, Flo in her undies! 🙂
The pleasure is all mine. And thanks for sharing Flo! Glad to know she’s in such good hands.
I see she has Oregon plates. Let me know if you’re passing this way.
I have simple tastes… i’d be thrilled to have a new Fiat 124 Spider Abarth… white with the red leather interior. I fight pulling the trigger on that because I own a 2012 500 Abarth with only 43k miles… planning on retiring fairly soon so finances are prioritized in a different direction.
That Packardbaker might look better with the stick-on fins removed; the overall shape isn’t half bad. But it gets me pining for a real Packard, the ’56 Caribbean hardtop. My lust object might otherwise be some ’70s Broughamtastic personal-luxury coupe that I’d never actually buy but would be fun to have for a day or a week. Maybe a Lincoln Mark IV or V, a ’76 T-bird, or a Toronado XS. A sedan from this era would be nice too – a ’75-’76 Fleetwood Talisman, Continental Town Car, Park Avenue, or 98 Regency.
I need a Vista Cruiser in my life and in my garage
+1
The easy answer is a nicer version of my ’65 Chrysler. But for real lust, this week I’d like a Cord 812 Phaeton.
‘67 Eldorado.
I want a 1907 Sturtevant with 3-speed fully auto trans (with mode switch to manual); flat air-cooled boxer six under the driver’s feet; and power disk brakes. Unfortunately Sturtevant didn’t go into volume production on their car; it seems that they were only building demo models to sell their inventions to major carmakers. Nevertheless, the car really worked.
I’ve kind of boiled down my desire to a Jaguar XK 150 drop head coupe. It is a real convertible, not a roadster. Besides the four wheel disc brakes it is a very basic car. I would just add the all synchro four speed transmission. Although I will probably end up with a mid 2000s XK eventually, I would prefer a car with no power or electronic assists.
From the first time I laid eyes on one at about 4 years of age I’ve always lusted for a 1956 Packard Patrician 4 door. This has been the one constant in my life that has never waned or evolved. It’s the first thing that I will buy if I win the lottery.
Since attending the British Car Day at Larz Anderson last Sunday, it’s been this ‘72 Elan Sprint:
After the last 5 days, I’d like my camper back.
Lust object?
’61 XK-E, Sex On Wheels, of course ….
Oh yes…yes, yes, yes. No other car can touch it. Today’s lust object.
At first blush, I thought that was a late-50s ChryCo product–at least I got the time frame right! At second blush, the tacked-on headlight pods are dispositive.
My lust object: a Lancia Fulvia. Preferably a Zagato, but I wouldn’t turn up my nose at an HF or a Berlina.
This. The Equus Bass 770
Ive always liked oddball little cars…… right now the car I’m really interested in is a 2001 Toyota Echo sitting on a used car lot I pass on my way to work. It’s bright red which I hate but works on that car (at least for me). Probably not the answer anyone expected. But that’s today’s car for me.
Today’s Lust Object. How true. If there were a Car of the Month Club, and you could make a purchase at the end, how great would that be?
Today, I want. ‘39 Jawa 600 Minor… another Stude clone, but even funkier with it’s 3/4 size, 2-stroke powerplant, FWD and rear swing axles with a crossways leaf spring.
This ’53 Ford please, in this color.
OMG Dad’s truck, except his had a Custom Cab and a six. Well played, I just love that color.
A late-model Saab 9-5 Turbo6 Aero XWD
The most dagerous one at the moment is that 97 Accord 2.2i station wagon with MT, AC, sunroof and just above 180k km down on the BHPH lot at the border to Luxemburg, since it can be had for play change. On the down side is that due state inspection (TÜV) and the fact, that I’m a city dweller with three cars already. But if I’d manage to move that dreaded Passat Variant (Dasher for NA) without giving it away…
Dreaming bigger there would be a 2nd gen Corvair 4dr or just LSing my Miata.
I came across this ’77 Pontiac Parisienne for sale that I was tempted to make an offer on, if I had the room for another car. I miss having a GM B-body and this 35K survivor was pretty solid. Being a Canadian Pontiac is an added bonus.
Currently I’m backpacking in Mexico, and I’d really like to drive a Tsuru myself for once. Carefully, on a quiet road, given how they’re even more unsafe than the original Sentra B13. Unfortunately my driving licence along with the entire wallet got stolen, so renting is out of the question for now (wasn’t planning on it anyway).
Besides that I’ve currently got an odd fetish for a V8 SD1. Not to own, mind, just to drive once.
A Zimmer Golden Spirit.
The day this post was published, it was the Jag. Since then it has been a number of different choices. Some days more than 1
Aston Martin DB.5. Even without the machine guns in the front wings.