Hello,
First post here. One of many future ones I suppose.

I bought a '39 six last fall and have enjoyed driving it with the kids. In the process of changing the oil, I noticed a ball joint that seems to be disconnected. I'm a bit of a novice here, so please don't flame my ignorance. I can move the alternator, change fluids and filters, put a grease gun on a nipple, and things of that sort.

Can anyone answer what the ball joint is for...why it might be disconnected from the socket below, and what to do to fix it? Also, what danger it poses driving without it attached? This is the first time that I've been underneath the car, so I don't know how long it has been driven with it disconnected.

See pic below:

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Here is a shot of a 16,000 mile 52 club sedan. No one has been in here to mess about.

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Well, for starters, I like the fact that it is a pushbutton car! The correct engine green is more of a medium metallic green than turquoise. I see lots of it on pushbutton actuators as they arrive, about one out of every eight.
Yes, it is rarer than a 400, but it is also a lesser model, and that has to figure in.

My feelings on the whole Rod and custom thing are pretty well known. I just don't like them painting parts like bumpers and grilles body color. To me that is bringing the car down to the standards of today's nerf-mobiles. Chrome trim is what made cars stand out back then. the chrome bumpers "frame" the body of the car, the chrome grille makes a statement. At least it doesn't have a small block Chevy, like the rest of them.

Guscha, Did a little research on the Studebaker family and found more interesting facts. Click on the link below to read about the family when they came to America from Germany.http://www.studebaker-info.org/stupresence/stupresence.html

Just came across this one and I just wanted to chime in about the brushes. I saw that mascara brushes came up and I totally agree that they would work great for what you are trying to do and they also come in different sizes (based on the desired amount of volume), good ones are silicone coated so product doesn't glob up and you can get them with a bend behind the bristles so they can be used from many angles (ideal for the modern makeup artist). Plus they are washable with just soap and water. A well made mascara brush will not only be cost effective but they last a long time. Or you can go with a disposable which I believe come in packages of 50 and 100 at your local beauty supply.
This commercial brought to you by licensed cosmetologist and Clipper owner.
I didn't mean for it to sound that way but seriously that is a good idea and a very versatile tool.

I was cleaning up and photographing the Derham today after I saw this thread earlier today

I will post some photographs of the filler tube later tonight if anyone would like to see them. The oil filler tube on the 53 Derham, a 327 Thunderbolt, is black, what's left of the engine paint is gray. I touched the oil filter bucket where the label is and it disintegrated. The outline of where it was should help.

If anyone needs photographs of the engine compartment let me know what you want.This car is original.I do not have a macro lens form my dSLR, closeups would have to be shot with my film Nikon and will need a bit of turn around time for processing and scanning/ converting through Photoshop.

O_D, you wanted interior images?

Well, I'm in no position to buy this one now unless I win the lottery soon...

When I first saw the listing, it seemed to me that the BIN price WAS reasonable, given the low production figure for this model.

But that's why I hang around at this forum...to learn things...

FWIW!
I purchased a 56 almost identical in shape as this one but with lower mileage 2 years ago but mine is black with Dover White top and side strip. My engine compartment is totally original, no restoration done, and engine is a hard to describe green, no turquoise tint period. Rocker covers look to be, what"s left, a silver. As far as price this comes down to how much do you REALLY want the car. I believe the start bid is a fair price if everything is as stated. There were 1031 Executive hardtops produced in 56.
Bill

Atleast it was done with good quality of workmanship. It doesn't look like a hack job.

The front is vintage Barris '50s California custom work. The Continental style trunk lid is kind of neat. I like seeing Packards that are tastefully modded. Like every other Packard, this one will probably be the only one at some shows.