LSU_Phidelt wrote:
Extremely fascinating and informative. Thank you for sharing.

RogerDetroit wrote:
Hello Leeedy:

Solid research as always. Keep up the good work of preserving Packard's history.

--Roger--

Let the ride decide wrote:
Always interesting.

I have a newspaper clipping dated Oct 1952, that says the Pan American sports car will be on display at Albert J Meek Sunday thru Thursday. He was the Packard dealer in Fort Worth.

The article states only 10 models of the Pan American have thus far been built, but Packard expects to build about 1,000 in the next year.

I have a photo by RW Graves with 5 women one identified as Queen in one of the fender mounted antenna Pan American. It appears to be in a stadium setting. Iin addition to naming the women it says only 6 made, but it also says it's a 1953 Caribbean. The car has 1953 California plates, but are not the dealer plates.

mlgrimes wrote:
Great article. Thanks for making the time to share this information and for leading the effort to find the missing Pan American's.

Owen_Dyneto wrote:
Leeedy, I haven't seen it recently but here's my snapshot from a few years ago.

jfrom@kanter wrote:
Additional photo. Please let me know if you need and others.

Thanks
James From
Kanter Auto Products

55packard400 wrote:
Hello all
If anyone can send me some close up photos of the rear antennas
It would be appreciated interested to see the antenna bases
Also if possible distance from center of antenna to end of taillights
Any help is always appreciated
Thanks

Packard5687 wrote:
Here is the story of the scientist who proved that lead added to gasoline was a major public health hazard and why it was ultimately removed from gas:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/94569/clair-patterson-scientist-who-determined-age-earth-and-then-saved-it

Marston wrote:
Seeing how your car was originally painted in the '70s your paint will either be a lacquer or acrylic enamel. While you can use acrylic enamel to spray over lacquer with proper prep work I probably would not do so if I could get lacquer (In California that is an impossibility unless of course you have a son or two that lives out of state). If you are talking about repairing a few nicks & chips then I would not hesitate to go with the enamel to repair either one. You would never want to spray or touch up with lacquer over enamel.

To determine if you have lacquer or enamel follow the steps below in an area that does not show:

1. Take a clean white cloth, wet it with lacquer thinner and rub a spot of paint to test the reaction.
2. If the color comes off immediately or the spot starts wrinkling, it shows that the type of paint is enamel.
3. But if the color wipes off onto the white cloth only after vigorous rubbing, it is a sign of lacquer paint.
4. If nothing wipes off onto the cloth, the paint is probably urethane based.

Now on to that important question of how can you match the color. My favorite process is to find a small easily removable part (e.g. gas cap door) and send it to TCP Global. Last time I used them it cost about $70. You should be able to order paint from them, make sure that you get your hardener and reducer from them so you know it is compatible with the paint you buy. Don't be afraid to use their house brand as is most probably PPG and will cost you a lot less than the name brand stuff.

I've seen cars that were painted with lacquer that is 50+ years old (that don't have and cracking or crazing) buff out real nice. So don't hesitated to give it a try. Use a very mild cleaning rub cleaner (not a Rubbing Compound). Just be gentle and to not overly aggressive especially on the corners or other sharp areas.

Good Luck

P.S. By the way I think your Golf Club panel should have been more than flat enough to do a color scan on.