Hi

Car & Parts in the '70's had articles by Hugo Pfau, Menno Duerksen, Richard Langworth, Jack Triplett writing well- researched, interesting articles. In the case of Pfau, he wrote his recollections of his experiences at LeBaron and knowledge of customcoachbuilding. His articles are worth pursuing if you're interested in the subject, they ran from '71 until his passing in '80.

The other big one is Special Interest Auto, 1970 through the early-mid 1990's, especially when Mike Lamm was still in charge. The early issues are just loaded with great research and writing! Later, it deteriorated badly.

Car Collector and Car Classics were savers, Collectible Automobile (pricy but worth it if it features a make of interest), some issues of the AACA The Antique Automobile dependent on the article subjects.

Old copies of Hemmings Motor News? Someone must have a bushel or two they'd be glad to give away!

Steve

Hi

I was looking up the torque specs for 1940 makes competitive with Packard, and a question for the Forum to bat around occurred. First the figures:

Engine, cubic inch, compression ratio, torque/RPM, hp/RPM
Six..........245..............6.39........195 @ 1200...100 @ 3200
Eight........282..............6.41........225 @ 1700...120 @ 3600
Eight........356..............6.45........292 @ 1800...160 @ 3500

The set up: You're a new car buyer, at the Packard dealership, seriously considering which one to buy. As much as you'd love a 160, it's out of your price range.

You're also after a family four door touring sedan, convertibles are just a dream. The Packard will be your only daily transportation, all the factors that go into such a decision have to be considered.

The dealer invites you drive both 110 and 120, which you do. The difference in driving characteristics and price will determine which you will purchase.

Now, which one do you buy?
110?
120?
Why?
Convince me one way or the other!

Steve

Hi

Here in the U.S., aluminum was the metal of choice for most of the custom coachbuilder in the Classic Era prior to WWII.
It was a rarer material then, easier to form for one-off and small run bodies. Because it was lighter and less common, considered a somewhat more sophisticated choice for expensive custom coachwork.

Steve

Hi

Paraphrasing the old cigarette ad slogan:
"The New 'Packard' that dares to be known by bad taste alone"
Thanks Mr. PB for the leVey quote! Never heard that before, but how true!

Steve

Hi

I'm a Studebaker enthusiast too, and that '58 Studebaker look unusual to me. It appears to be the 120.5 wb Y-Body sedan of the U.S. model President but it has the side trim of a Champion or Commander.

What model name is on it? Do you know if it has a 289 ci or 259 ci V-8 engine? It is an Export model with RHD, I wouldn't be surprised if there are differences in the chassis specs. Thanks!

Steve

PS: Never mind on the side trim, I now see the President trim, almost all are two-toned to emphasize it.

Bump
Hi

Anyone attending this auction tomorrow? The Mayfair looks like a high plains car, but the '56 Clipper Deluxe has to be an escapee from the Northeast U.S. Cars native to that area may have sunburned paint and dried-up interior but the sheet metal and trim are as nice as the day they were made.

Steve

Hi

This auction at Hudson,CO, June 4th has a '53 Mayfair and a '56 Clipper Deluxe:

http://www.whitleyauction.com/The-Estate-of-Mr-Harold-R-Hap-Enander-Auction-Sale-ag154173.php

Mayfair looks restorable.....'56 Clipper Deluxe, not so much!

Steve

Hi

There are five Packards listed at this auction at Elizabeth, Illinois, July 30th. It takes place just 15 miles down the road from Galena a couple weeks after the PAC National.

Those '29 convertible and '30 phaeton might be good projects and that '36 120 looks like a nice original.

http://www.vanderbrinkauctions.com/auctions_details.php?detail=92

Of course, if you like Studebakers too, there are many to choose from.

Steve

Hi

Gadzooks!!! When you make your automotive dreams come true, you go all the way!!!! Immediately!!!

Congratulations on acquiring such a wonderfully desirable Packard! A 745! Most of us can only dream of owning such a jewel! And at 43 years old, that just stuns me! 58 here and it hasn't happened yet and isn't likely to.

Steve

Hi

Of the many tragedies that resulted from Packard's collapse, that no other company picked up the tooling and rights to the V-8 is one.

There was one company which could have benefited had Packard management shopped the engine to truckmakers when they were in development stage, that being International Harvester. That they didn't shop it around, given their experience with White and the 245 c.i. six, is just puzzling. IH would begin offering it's own V-8 in 1957, at what must have been tremendous expense for a relatively small company.

Had Packard contracted to supply IH engines begining in 1955, IH would have been obliged to assume production and further development after 1956. However unglamorous its application, IH would have corrected whatever shortcoming the engine had in subsequent iterations.

As I recall, IH had displacements up to 534 c.i.. Other than being thirsty, it was one rugged, long-lived engine.

Steve