Re: Installation of Fabric Top Insert

Posted by Tim Cole On 2009/7/8 18:19:01

This is a 17th series seven passenger which has had the insert replaced already. Visually it looks great, but the owner says it leaks. When I looked at the car and the paint I told the owner that the car can't be used in the rain otherwise the original Packard paint will start falling off in chunks. He was skeptical about my conclusion. I wouldn't put water on it because of the paint.

What I would like to know is whether Packard used any compression media under the tacking strip which if ignored would allow leakage. I was looking at a 15th series car that came out of a junkyard and it looks like the thing originally was just cheap pantasote with no sealer or flashing cement. Wow. So I guess the wood acted as the anti-drip media. That's not a great system.

I personally have never driven one of these cars in a torrential downpour and so I really don't know what to expect.

I have driven a Darrin in the rain and water poured in from everywhere. It was like being on the poopdeck of squarerigger under heavy seas. I got soaked.

Thanks for the help.