1958 Packard Saloon

This car’s chassis number is: 58L6483.

It is a LHD automatic from the 1958 model year and has 31,478 miles on the odometer.

In common with many vehicles from the vendor’s collection, this car comes with virtually no history or service records.

We know that it was alive and well in Maryland in 2015, and Oregon in 1982. It has Oregon license plates in the boot.

We know that it was bought for the vendor’s collection of static display vehicles in 2017.

It’s a 1950’s American car so it is, of course, massive, bristling with fins and adorned with more chrome than the Chrysler building.

Overall, it presents pretty well, and the sheer size of it coupled with the bold black and yellow livery make it a very striking thing to behold.

The bodywork is largely free of any dinks, dents, creases, ripples or folds of note.

The black and yellow paintwork looks good from a few feet away, and the panels and shut lines seem consistent and even.

The wheels are reasonable. The chrome hub caps - which are OK - are in the boot, along with a spare wheel and a box of assorted parts.

The acres of chrome have held up pretty well and are largely, but not entirely, free of foxing and pitting.

There is a small dent on the o/s/f wing above the bumper, some cracked paint on top of the same wing, and some more cracked paint on the o/s/r fin.

There is a small patch of paint missing on the driver’s door.

The rear bumper is dropping down on the o/s and has a few shallow dinks and dimples to show for its years of service protecting the car’s backside.

The paint on the bonnet is crazed throughout.

There is some rust at the base of the ‘B’ pillars, and above the sills and just below the doors on both sides.

The paint is cracked around the chrome strip at the top of the rear screen and the windscreen, and a little superficial rust has made its home in the cracks.

The rubber trim on the door seals is perished or missing in numerous places, allowing some seemingly superficial rust to gain a minor foothold here and there.

The n/s reversing light lens is cracked.

The interior condition is really very reasonable.

The seats, front and back, are comfortable and supportive. The spangly fabric has endured the passage of time with commendable fortitude.

The carpets and mats are in decent nick, if in need of a good clean.

The door cards are intact and undamaged.

While generally fine and not torn or ripped, the headlining is stained around the rear screen.

The vinyl on top of the dashboard seems to have lost its padding and is baggy and misshapen. The steering wheel boss is missing and the o/s/f quarter light glass is broken.

The enamel on the steering wheel is cracked in places.

We can’t make any claims about the functionality of switches, knobs, levers, toggles, buttons, dials or other electrics as we haven’t tried to start the vehicle.

The boot is in good condition.

In general, the undersides seem to have a reasonable degree of structural integrity.

We’ve seen some rust and flaking on top of the sills on both sides, but the extent or significance of these issues is hard to assess.

You will, of course, want to see for yourself and reach your own conclusion.

The engine bay is clean and dry and everything appears to be in its right and proper place.

The car doesn’t come with a service history or any record of work done.

Currently, this car has neither an MoT certificate nor a current V5.

It must be registered in the country of your choice and you will need to contact the appropriate vehicle licensing agency for instructions on how to do this. Any paperwork shown in the gallery is a facsimile and in no way constitutes any kind of licensing or registration certification.

With the proviso that we can’t vouch for the car’s mechanical and electrical status, we think this is a very handsome example of a 1958 Packard – one of the last cars to ever carry that illustrious marque’s name.

Yes, it needs a little TLC, but we think the underlying car is of more than sufficient quality to merit the time and effort and involved.

If it proves to be dynamically and functionally strong, then this glorious piece of automotive Americana has the potential to become a rewarding car to own and drive for many years to come.

We’re confident to offer this car for auction with an estimate of £5,000 - £10,000 plus Bonhams bond payment and £250 NOVA fee.

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.