Nice pictures and useful comments, thanks all. I spent most of today with the car. Hoping to get it closer to starting but my progress is hard to see. I did a lot of cleaning in the engine bay and other areas. I think perhaps I should start a Project Blog in the appropriate sub-forum, to keep this sub-forum clear for more pressing issues.

Everyone interested in the 1201 coupe, and its restoration, please look for a Project Blog to be commenced shortly.

Cheers, John

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And this:

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BDC, it looks embarrassingly rusty and neglected, sorry, like a barn find, although it was never lost. I don't have any really interesting pictures to share, sorry, but I'll trickle you a couple. I've got two pictures from the very last day the engine turned over. We drove it around our family property on my wedding day in 1993. You can see that it was running rough then.

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Yes Peter, our plate is definitely from Detroit, and is unstamped as you predicted.

I'd love to understand its place in Packard history a bit better... 117 estimated in total according to Owen... some Canadian, some American; most LHD, this one RHD. I wonder; how did it end up sold new in Melbourne all by itself? Why don't there seem to be other coupes? Was your Su8 imported and sold by the same vendor? Curious...

Peter, your name sounds familiar from when my dad and I were members of PACA and PI for a while in the 80s; great to reconnect! I sense that I might lean heavily on your expertise in months to come, if that's okay?

Sloride75, thank you. I have attached an old snapshot from the last year that it rolled out of the shed.

John

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Hello Todd,
I've read this story through from the start and I've gathered that you enjoy a story, so I'll share this story with you. I hope it's worth your time to read...
I live on the opposite side of the planet to California, on an island called Tasmania, off the biggest island down under; Australia. Mine is not a wealthy family but in 1983 (the year I turned 18), my father took possession of a 1935 1201 818 coupe. It was a reluctant deal in which my dad helped his very elderly aunt finance her bathroom renovation, and in return he semi-reluctantly received the Packard; a very unusual and original car for our part of the world.

I fell immediately in love with the beautiful, mysterious, elegant old car, but as a teenager I had no money to spend on it, and my dad was too busy running a small business and providing for our family. Together we loved the beautiful old car, but we did little more than slide it into storage. I read as much as I could; I learned about Packards, but being impecunious, my dreams for the car went no further than that.

A few years later, when I was a university student with still no income, I was lucky enough to score an undergraduate exchange to the UK. I could barely afford to take up the placement; the most affordable ticket to England was with Iberian Airlines via California. In hindsight I was extremely lucky to pass through LA both to and from England, but I had so little money that on the way over I slept on the streets of L.A. and showered at the beach showers on the coast.

On my return to Australia in January 1990, I got lucky with my timing and stopped over in Los Angeles in time to attend the annual gathering of the Packards International club. During that event I met many fantastic people, but one man was generous above all others.

That generous man invited me into his home, fed me, gave me a secure place to stay, and taught me plenty about these magnificent machines. He arranged for me to experience a personal viewing of the Nethercutt Collection. He gifted me the thrill of driving his V12 1939 Limousine on the incredible motorways of L.A. Consider that I live in a distant and isolated place where more than one lane each direction is rare. The experience of forcing that throttle open in a perfectly tuned Packard Twelve in its ultimate expression, in 10 hectic lanes of traffic... that was a magical day.

That generous man was your friend, Roger Morrison.

I came home to Tasmania after that experience determined to keep in touch with my new friend Roger, and equally determined to preserve and enjoy our family's humble 1201 coupe. But to my sincere regret I failed. Life intervened. I got married, had kids, forged three hectic careers (as a wilderness guide, then as a chemical engineer and now I'm a teacher) and inexcusably lost touch with Roger. Life went on, our Packard became neglected and I gradually lost the memory of Roger's name.

This year the time has come to make amends. Twenty-six full years have gone by since my time learning about Packards in California with Roger. My young family is growing up and I finally have the time, and suddenly have the motivation to restore our old coupe. I've done more reading and research in the last two weeks than during the last twenty years; and finding this thread has brought my memories of my time in California with Roger flooding back. Thank you, Todd, for posting it.

Todd; I'm not sure if this post will pop up in your forum view. If you do read this; are you still in contact with Roger? If so, could you please pass on my belated and warm greetings? I hope Roger is still healthy and happy. If you have Roger's address, could you please send it to me via PM? I'd love to write to Roger, and let him know that despite the passing of 26 years, his warm Packardian hospitality has helped keep my Packard flame alive after all these years.

All the best from way down under,

John

Great pictures thanks! The one in the PMCC rendition is very close to ours with its standard bail cap and rear spare. The only minor difference I can see is the tyre choice. This one from the Making of Modern Michigan website also seems basically identical to ours except for the RHD in ours.

John

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Ours has the American plate, not the Canadian one. So number 20.

Interesting information, thank you!

John

Hello BDC, it's fantastic to make contact with another 818 owner! Do you know of any others? Do you know how many were made? Ours is the 20th if my understanding of the numbering system is right (818 220).

Cheers from here, John

Hello Owen,

I can't thank you enough for your advice, which in addition to Mal's, gives me the confidence I need to proceed. I really appreciate the detailed information you gentlemen have provided, and the time invested in providing it. Thank you sincerely.

Progress will be slow because I can only allocate one day per weekend and one evening per week, but I'll be sure to ask more questions and to let you know how it goes.

All the best from Tassie.

John

"A question, who's behind the wheel?"

That's my son. He helped wash off all the dust; hopefully he'll stay interested as the restoration progresses. Attached is a picture of him sporting some outrageous rumble-seat goggles we found in the car. Don't tell him I posted it; he'll murder me.

"So, concurrent with engine and fuel systems reviews please check that the steering is tight and that the brakes are in good condition."

I'll be happy if I can get the engine to run first. Haven't even considered moving it yet! Will follow your advice on that in due course.

"Am I right in thinking that '35 Seniors still had mechanical brakes with "power assistance" and hadn't gone to hydraulics yet?"

Yes, I understand so. Will investigate the brakes in future months.

Thanks again for all your advice.

Cheers for now, John.

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