The throttle cross shaft uses two cheap aluminum bosses on the firewall that wear and inhibit proper action. Sometimes the rivet pins loosen as well and the thing develops slop.

The correct throttle spring is anchored to the driver's side floor board where there is a cast tang.

Added springs are an attempt to fix this problem.

I had the same problem with Billy Hirsch's car and it had under 25,000 miles on it. In that case he went crazy with chrome plating and the parts didn't go back together correctly because the original fit went out the window.

I'm willing to put up a cash wager as to the Clipper story being an actual taxi model.

Taxi models weren't anything special. They might have a few up fitted parts from heavier cars, but there were no specially formulated steels being used. That would drive costs up and fleet sales down.

Too bad that story didn't go into greater detail as to the service problems. Rotten in service percentages hit the operator three ways. Lost revenue, bank loan payments on out of service equipment, and payroll overhead to retain qualified drivers.

I'll bet the parts department was taking very poor care of the guy and the transmissions were falling out of those cars. GM, Ford, and Chrysler were using transmissions specifically designed for a column shift (read side loader) whereas Packard stuck with it's mickey mouse floor shift conversion.

The location of that picture does present a lot of questions and was likely a unique situation warranting a photo.

Attached is a period photo of a taxi fake being used in a movie. Probably an employee's car made up for the scene.

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Fist fights at a car show? Really?

Please note my previous coinage of the term "Rabble Beach".

Even if I happened to pass near the place on business I would make for a wide detour.

An unfortunate term that first entered the dictionary in 1950. I hate it. As I do all French terms used by people who think usage thereof makes them sound sophisticated.

Right, it became an option on Chevrolet in 1956.

Tinted glass didn't become a factory option on cars until around 57-58 which is why it is a standard judging deduction.

If there is no visible laminate seam the glass may be tempered. Usually original glass has at least some visible laminate separation. If the glass is perfect in that respect it probably is not original. The original tinted glass options on cars was not a very dark color only a tint unlike the ghetto stuff you see today or the deep tint used to prevent the greenhouse effect in the south.

Winter this year in Michigan has been unusually warm.

I'll see if I can dig up a good example of original discolored 1938 Packard glass.

Only father time knows the story behind that motor, but the varying stud heights indicate prior engine work. The car is probably a victim of poor storage by a now deceased owner.

I see more and more of that nowadays. Cars that were decent originals (or even refinished) twenty years ago coming out of storage in decrepit condition.

I even see cars that were being judged at CCCA and Packard club events being cut up and turned into trash rods.

Quite frankly, if I want to turn cash into smoke I will give it to the local animal shelter or planned parenthood for the poor.

Powder coating is intended as a cheap low cost alternative to paint and associated VOC emissions. It's primary advantage is uniformity at low cost.

I have a powder coated tool box that is faded while it's painted counterpart still looks great.

As such, I tried it once on a fuel pump because I wanted a relatively sturdy black finish. The casting was not damaged at all, but that is the last time I ever gave it consideration. Base coat clear coat is superior.

So I doubt whomever did the damage to those parts knew what they were doing or talking about.

I used powder coating on steel wheels that needed a cheap finish, but the color match was rotten. It's not bad when tubeless tires are being used and the rims aren't too rusted around the bead seating area.

Below is an ad for the Isotta-Fraschini and the Packard Twin Six. The only time Packard was able to claim a unique place in the automobile market was when they came out with that Twin Six. After that the only unique feature Packard ever had, oddly enough, was at the end with the torsion bar suspension. Sure they built nice cars, and the 30's Senior cars drove really great when new, but they never had the unique position in the marketplace that the Twin Six had.

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The Packard Twin Six of 1916 is the reason anybody even remembers Packard. Nothing overshadowed that achievement until the J Duesenberg. When I was a kid the old timers were still talking about how far above the competition that Twin Six was.