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

Look for an exhaust manifold leak/bad gasket. Good luck.

Some photos from the Photo Archive at PackardInfo:

http://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/mod ... yalbum/photo.php?lid=8934

http://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/mod ... yalbum/photo.php?lid=8968

http://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/mod ... yalbum/photo.php?lid=1210

http://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/mod ... yalbum/photo.php?lid=2216

http://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/mod ... yalbum/photo.php?lid=2213

http://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/mod ... yalbum/photo.php?lid=1918

http://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=57

Also looks like there are many photos of the Mayfair that is listed on eBay from several years ago also in the Photo Archive.

Good luck

Kev,
Thanks for sharing. Carol was a wonderful person and a hyperactive PI member who promoted and preserved the Packard marque. Thanks to Carol for the many times she helped so many of us.

I took a number of photos in the Warren 2009 1937 "Showroom". You can find them on this website:

Go to "Main Menu" in the Far Left Column
Click on "Packard Photo Archive"
Go the the Folder near the bottom titled "Car Show Pictures"
The photos for this event start on page 73 in the folder

Enjoy

Mike

From the Photo Archive:
http://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/mod ... yalbum/photo.php?lid=1233

On six occasions I have been able to identify the original owner.

In one case (1953 Caribbean) I was able to secure some clues from an owner who had the car in the 1990's. He knew where the car was garaged when sold new. He thought it belonged to the owner of a Ford dealership. While the dealership had changed hands, they provided the owner's children and their contact info. The Packard was a wedding gift from the bride's parents. Her husband owned the local Ford dealership! The children told me wonder stories of the many divorce threats that revolved around the Packard and the jokes at husband's expense. "Your wife is too good to drive a Ford". "Who runs your house?" I'm sure you all can imagine the strain on the relationship. Their Mom drove the 1953 Caribbean everyday until her death in the early 1980's. This is a variant of O-D's idea.

In another case (1955 Caribbean) the person who sold the Packard to me knew the name of the dealership that sold the car new. A small town in Nebraska where I thought a new 1955 Caribbean would have been the talk of the town. I contacted the local library for newspaper articles of the period. They instead referred me to the town historical society which happened to be led by the head librarian. With the offer of a gift to the historical society, within 3 weeks I had the name of the original owner and the Packard's story. This time the Packard was a custom order for the 50th birthday of the wife of a local physician. With that info came the contact info of their only daughter, who learned to drive in the family's 1953 Caribbean. Both Caribbean's were sold back to local Packard dealership's owner in the 1980's when the family members were no longer able to operate their Packards.

On other occasions I have used info from contributors of this website, info from the Studebaker-Packard National Museum (1956 and very late 1955 only), service records and papers left in the cars, and of course the internet.

It takes a lot of effort and does not happen overnight. However, the former owners who knew the history of their Packards and their family members are not getting any younger. Memories fade and people leaving the scene.

This note is to provide you some encouragement. It is a noble cause.

I hope you enjoyed the history of these two Packards and that you discover the history of yours.

Good luck.

My wedding toast...to the wife...your husband always has the last word...to the husband...the last word is always "yes my dear". Much happiness and contentment to you both on your journey together...in a Packard!
All the best, Mike

Great thoughts on your suggestion. I'd strongly recommend that you ship it and have your first white knuckle drive from your house. I'd much rather be 10 miles from home if the unexpected occurs.

The last 1954 AC control panel that I saw for sale was priced at $32,000. Of course it was attached to a beautiful Pacific. Congrats on a great find.