(July 8, 2010) GOLDSBORO, N.C. — Cars have been a big part of Adrian Overbee’s life since he was old enough to drive. Beginning with a 1939 Chevrolet coupe, he has owned and restored several antique cars over the past 45 years.

He also owned some new Detroit metal in his younger years that have become classic cars today including a 1959 Buick convertible and a 1959 Chevrolet Corvette.

He says his latest endeavor, the restoration of a 1940 Packard four-door sedan that took more than a decade to complete, will be his last.

“That’s my retirement car. I’m getting too old to be laying on a concrete floor underneath a car,” Overbee said.

Overbee purchased the Packard, a Model 1800, 110 Series, in running condition from a man in Conway, S.C., on July 4, 1991.

Over the next 13 years, Overbee — with help from family members and good friend and fellow car restorer Bobby Webber — completely disassembled the Packard and rebuilt it from the ground up with most of the work done in his three-car garage at his home in Walnut Creek near Goldsboro.

The bulk of the undertaking was completed during the first three years following his retirement during 2002.

“I don’t think there’s a bolt in the car that hasn’t been turned,” he said in describing how the body was removed from the chassis and the entire drivetrain and suspension removed and replaced.

Even though the six-cylinder Packard engine and the three-speed manual transmission were still in operating condition, Overbee wanted modern equipment. He sold the original engine, overdrive transmission, rear end, front suspension and wheels and tires to a Packard collector from Hagerstown, Md.

The front and rear suspension was replaced. A 1969 Chevrolet Nova front sub-frame and rear differential were installed. The Packard now has power front disc brakes, air shocks, power steering and a 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.

The sedan is powered by a 305 cubic inch small block Chevrolet V-8 with polished aluminum and chrome accessories.

Overbee said he made only minor changes to the all-steel Packard body. Tinted glass was installed, the vent windows were removed and custom-made running boards have been installed.

While the interior still looks like a 1940 Packard, there are numerous upgrades including a customized dash with modern gauges, air conditioning vents in the dashboard, power windows, six-way power bucket seats, center console with armrest, a new Alpine stereo system with CD player and tilt and telescoping steering wheel.

The interior was completely redone in leather upholstery by Jerry Hobgood of Spring Hope, and the car was painted in DuPont Wildberry Pearl by Kent Barnes of Dudley.

Although Overbee is constantly finding things to do on the car, for all practical purposes it was completed and titled in May 2004. Since then he’s driven it more than 7,500 miles. Most of the mileage has come on trips to car shows in Williamsburg, Va., Charlotte and Raleigh.

Overbee had experience in restoring cars before purchasing the Packard. In the 1970s and ’80s he restored a 1929 Austin Bantam and a 1931 Ford Model A Tudoor. He also purchased a 1935 Buick four-door sedan that was already in restored condition. He sold those cars before embarking on his latest project.

“I decided to restore the Packard because I wanted a larger car that was roomy and comfortable with a nice, smooth ride,” he said.

Overbee won’t say — and probably doesn’t actually know — how much money and time he has invested in the Packard. But he figures it’s now worth more than $60,000.

Packard was one of the most popular luxury cars in the United States before World War II — the company sold 98,000 cars in 1940 — but to be competitive Packard started producing an affordable lineup of cars including the 110 and 120 models. In 1940, Packard prices ranged from $867 for the 110 model that Overbee has restored up to the One Eighty Super Eight Darrin convertible for $6,300.

— Jim Meachen