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I took a few days off from work to travel to West Paris, Maine to view the extraordinary Bahre car collection, on July 21. This collection includes one of the world's finest assemblages of Packard's. In addition to Packard's, the collection also highlights American Classics.

The collection is usually open to the public one day a year, with the $10 dollar donation going to support the Hamlin Library and Museum in Paris, Maine.

In addition to the car collection the buildings and grounds where the cars are stored and shown is a sight to see. The garages are spotless, the cars are presented well, and the garages were surrounded by manicured lawns and fresh plantings. First class - top shelf - enough said.

I couldn't take my eyes off a light blue '32 that was positioned outside the garages on the entrance to the collection. I took a few extra pictures of this one.

Hope you enjoy the pictures as much as I did walking around and taking them.

Further information about the collection and location:

http://www.hamlin.lib.me.us/founders_day.html
http://www.hamlin.lib.me.us/contact_us.html

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A few more:

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I believe that is the same car that was parked outside of the now defunct museum in Harrisburg Pa. It was touring with I believe a tan Packard of the same vintage. This was back in the 70's. I have pictures of it and of the cars in the museum somewhere.

A few more....

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Some more....

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And the remaining ones...

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Thanks so much for the photos, it's quite the stunning collection, and setting as well, it brought back some delightful memories. Many Packard owners who attended the PAC National in Boston (Danvers) back in 2005, myself included, had the opportunity to visit the collection via chartered coach and it was one of the highlights of the tour. It's also great to see some of these cars on tours or on the road; Mr. Bahre had his 34 1108 LeBaron phaeton on one of the Greenwich Concours tours a few years ago and a similar recollection I cherish was seeing the front-wheel drive V12 prototype driven on the field at the 1999 Centennial.

One of the very unique features of the LeBaron that I recall was the forward-mounted sideview mirrors attached to the front headlight iron - never seen it before nor since.

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Those mirrors are pictured in the options catalog. I've seen one other set, and they are on a car in the Packard Museum here in Dayton. The car is a basket case, with a Hibbard & Darrin-esque convertible victoria body (similar look to the "Greta Garbo" Duesenberg).

We really should have a long conversation about the desirability of longer captions for the uneducated among us, myself very much at the head of the list.

Find myself very curious about the colors of the colorful cars--are they period viable?

Also the two toning here and there; all within the framework of the times?

Multiple color on cars was very popular in the 20s and up thru perhaps 1934 on Packard, more so on open models and coupes than on the more formal styles. For example if you look at Packard's paint schemes for 1934 (shown below for the Eight, Super Eight and Twelve similar) you'll see as many a 4 colors were often employed.

I suspect all of Mr. Bahre's cars are painted in authentic available colors and probably often in correct colors original to the vehicle.

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