Nicknamed “Frankenstein” for its scavenged parts from a 1964 Chevy truck, Isuzu Trooper, and Dodge van, this 1948 Packard Henney 3-way Hearse features a Chevy 350 V8 engine paired with a THM400 automatic transmission and a Manual Nu-3-Way casket loading system. A chopped casket on a sliding track, lake/side pipes, powder-coated front and rear bumpers, and reversed landau bars give this coach its unmistakable personality. The build includes a new tilt steering column, floor shifter, power front windows, modern instrumentation, a Walker radiator with electric fan, and “Vintage Air” heater/defroster. Rebuilt front Packard lever-action shocks and suspension, a front disc brake conversion, rear air shocks, and a professionally cleaned and sealed fuel tank with auxiliary electric pump round out the mechanical work.
The seller is transparent about the vehicle’s rough 70-year history—time spent weathering in a field, a partial gutting for unknown repurposing, and a “home build” rather than a frame-off restoration. The roof was recently professionally sandblasted and sealed. The right side sustained damage at some point, causing the right rear door to stick out slightly, with original lead filler still visible on the body. Flaws include a Lexan rear window replacing the lost original curved glass, no windshield wiper motor, no weather sealing on doors, a stuck passenger front window, and a sticking hood when opened from the passenger side. The car runs and drives well, though the seller has never driven more than 50 miles from home. Rear and right front cameras with a 7″ viewing screen compensate for blind spots.
Specifications
- Year: 1948
- Make/Model: Packard
- Coach Builder: Henney
- Casket Load: Manual Nu-3-Way
- Engine: Chevy 350 V8
- Transmission: THM400 Automatic
- Rear End: 1964 Chevy Truck
- Steering: Power (Chevy pump & Isuzu gearbox)
- Brakes: Front Disc Conversion (ABS Power Brakes)
- Interior: Upholstered/Carpeted (~10 years ago)
- Location: Watsonville, California
Status: ARCHIVED via eBay — last seen listed at $9,750 in Watsonville, California (November 2019)