Mike had to make all the wood from scratch (which is impressive). While building everything, he put the wood together repeatedly and even- tually realized the wagon looked better with just three crossbars rather than the stock five. That’s the only real change he did before he straight- ened out the body. Artistic Auto Works laid down the custom dark blue (Mike calls it Blufel) paint. The interior features the original seats cov- ered in blood red leather by Mike, a custom wood steering wheel that took 24 pieces of wal- nut, a wood-grained stock dash, Classic Instruments retrofitted the stock gauges, and
Mike wired it all together with a kit from American Autowire. There have been many projects someone saved because they could, but it’s extra cool when a bas- ket case cool and rare car comes back. That’s where hot rodding really shines, the old Packard Station Sedan was too rough to be restored with- out everything being fake, but making it a street rod not only got the project done, but it looks stock (other than stance) and drives with all the aplomb of a modern ride. That’s exactly the kind of thing NSRA was going after back in 1970 when it all started!
84 JULY 2026
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