Newbie with some questions

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Eric Langer

My friend just pulled this out of his barn and we are getting ready to try and make it road worthy. It looks to be either an Ambulance or a Hearse. The Firewall Data Plate #1701A-2596 / Date 5-11-1939 Has a straight 8, divider between front seats and rear compartment, second row suicide doors, and single rear door in the back. I don't have an engine code at this writing.

Are these relatively rare, any value?

Thanks in advance.
 
I'll try and get some pictures on tomorrow. Lets just say it's one step over parts car status. The engine turns by hand and the cooling system holds water. We bought new tuneup parts and carb to see if it will fire. Going to attempt that as soon as we get the body back on our current project.

It is a Henney Chasis, 160" wheelbase.
 
Welcome to the Friends of the Professional Car Society website.

While I am always optimistic that an old engine will start, I also know that it will not run for long before you will have to do some mechanical repairs to it. I suggest that you don't mess with the points, other than to run a point file between the contacts. If you don't have a point file, then an emery board (borrow one from your mother or girlfriend) will work just as well. I always go on the assumption that it was running when parked, and that it will run again. I started my 1928 Buick by doing this after it had sat in a garage for 40 years. Once it was running, it didn't take long before the valve springs started failing because of metal fatigue. Springs under the same compression for 40 years will develop metal fatigue from the cold and warm temperature changes. New springs, and it was running like it did 40 years before. Once you know it runs, then you can change the ignition parts. The more that you change before trying to start it, the harder it is to determine why it won't start.
As for value, that is determined by rarity and desirability / or demand for the vehicle. The less of them there are, and the more people that want it, will determine its ultimate value. Just watch any of the collector car auctions, and you will see this time and again.
There is a Henney Chapter of the Professional Car Society that is devoted to just this one brand, so there is a lot of help available to you. Please consider joining the club itself, the Professional Car Society.
Thanks
Paul Steinberg
PCS President
Senior Website Administrator
 
Paul is correct on all of the above. Also add "Condition" to the list on determining value.

The "120" is the designation given to the model number, 282 cubic inch, 120 horsepower. 17 is the series(1939), 01 is the model # (120). A is commercial chassis. Almost all of the Henney's of that era, Funeral Cars, Flower Cars, and Ambulances were on a 160" wheelbase.
 
Mike is correct. This is a 1939 Henney-Packard based on the Series 1701-A Packard Eight commercial chassis. The Packard Eight is more commonly known as the 120. There should be some additional numbers on the serial plate. This would be a three-digit number beginning with an eight. This number indicates the specific service configuration - end-loading hearse, three-way hearse, ambulance, service or flower car. It would be interesting if you could find and post this number so that we would all know exactly what you've got there. The number car be found on the Henney serial plate.
 
The Packard Serial plate is located on the left top of the cowl as you have the hood open, obviously you found it. The Henney plate is found on the opposite side (Passenger or right side) in the same location. It should have ID number on it.
 
I crawled all over the car and cannot find an additional plate. Thanks for the suggestions on starting. The car has not run in a very long time and was sitting in an open pole barn. The distributor sat with no cap so it's full of crud. The wires are dry rotted and a kit in the carb I would think is warranted. We sent the fuel tank out to be cleaned.

Body wise the cars not bad, usual rust and dents. Interior needs a complete restore but mostly there. It's current state is about 1 step over a parts car.

The reason I ask (mind you I'm 55 and the owner is 67) , value and collectability would determine this cars actual fate.
 
Eric,
I know nothing about this Coach and can be of no help, but
****WELCOME TO THE GROUP !****
This gang of members, as you can see, are very helpful.
Gus
 
Gus Boucher said:
Eric,
I know nothing about this Coach
Gus
Click to expand...

That makes 2 of us.:D

I'm just a car guy that likes all older cars, my buddy has a yard full of about 50 old cars and 1 by 1 over the last few years we've been getting them running. He's gotten a wild hair about this one. My cars always seem to cost me money,so I play with his stuff as I can have all the fun with no expense. ;)
 
the question is how much value and does it have any collect ability to you? if you looking to sell or looking to restore then sell. the truth is you will have more money in the car restoring it then it will sell for. just the facts of a pro car. so if you looking to sell then now is the time to get the most for it. before you put any money into it. but if you want to keep one they are a fairly nice car redone.
 
In most cases John, that applies to 90% of the cars out there. It's better to buy a restored car than to restore one yourself. I've been fixing up old muscle cars for 40 years and have not gotten rich off of any of them. There are worse things one can find to dump money into.
 
Eric,
If that car has a 288 engine, it's the wrong one. It came with a 282. The 288 was later, like 1948 or such.
It's hard for anyone to value a car without being right there to look at it in person. It depends what you want to do with it, restore, parts car, or whatever. Different people have different desires. The real value is established by selling it at auction or placing it on e.bay, and seeing what it brings.
Sorry I'm not much help.
 
now me I can't sell anything. but if I had it I would start at a grand. the duel cowl spares and fenders will bring that. last one of these I saw go was brought out of Nebraska just for them. they were swapped out and the car resold. it had a drive train went both time some were around that.
 
Mike Burkhart said:
Eric,
If that car has a 288 engine, it's the wrong one. It came with a 282. The 288 was later, like 1948 or such.
It's hard for anyone to value a car without being right there to look at it in person. It depends what you want to do with it, restore, parts car, or whatever. Different people have different desires. The real value is established by selling it at auction or placing it on e.bay, and seeing what it brings.
Sorry I'm not much help.
Click to expand...

Are the heads interchangeable?
 
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