Okay, so, I’ve been wanting a classic pickup truck for, like, forever. And Packards? Man, they’re just pure class. So I thought, “Why not combine the two?” It started as just a daydream, you know? But then I really got into it.
First, I scoured the internet. I mean, hours and hours looking at old photos, forum posts, anything I could find about Packard trucks. Turns out, they did make trucks, mostly in the early days, like the 1910s and 20s. Finding one of those? Nearly impossible, and way out of my budget.
So, plan B. I decided I’d have to build my own, “Packard-inspired” pickup. I started looking for a donor truck, something with a good frame and a decent engine. After a few weeks of searching local listings and junkyards, I found a beat-up 1950s Ford F100. It was rough, but it had potential.
The Build Begins
The first thing I did was strip it down. I mean, really strip it down. I took off the bed, the fenders, everything. I wanted to get a good look at the frame and make sure it was solid. There was some rust, but nothing I couldn’t handle with a grinder and some welding.
- Removed old bed and fenders.
- Cleaned and repaired the frame.
- Started sourcing parts.
Then came the fun part (and the expensive part): finding parts that would give it that Packard look. I spent weeks looking for a grille that would work. The Front of packard is too big, finally I chose a similar one. It’s close enough, and most people wouldn’t know the difference anyway.
The paint job was next. I went with a classic two-tone: a deep, rich burgundy on the bottom and a creamy ivory on top. I wanted something that looked classy and elegant, just like a Packard should.
The interior was a whole other project. I found some old bucket seats from a salvaged car and had them reupholstered in a nice, soft leather. And I designed a simple dashboard with classic-looking gauges.
The Finished (For Now) Product
It’s still a work in progress, honestly. But it’s driveable, and it turns heads everywhere I go. People are always asking me, “What is that?” And I get to tell them, “It’s my Packard pickup truck.” It’s not perfect, but it’s mine, and I built it.
It was a ton of work, a lot of sweat, and a few curse words along the way, but I’m pretty darn proud of how it turned out. It’s a unique, and it’s got that classic style I was going for.
Maybe one day I’ll find an actual, real Packard truck. But for now, this one’s pretty darn cool.
