Re: Invitation

Posted by Peter Hartmann On 2008/9/8 6:03:34

John - I cant remember the tech. details about Pierces - been probably fifty years since I worked on one.

But that is the essential differences between us. I think you are a great guy for having enough interest in old cars to devote as much effort (and probably money) to getting a bunch of books about them.

That illustrates the difference between us - I am old enough to have owned, driven, & worked on big luxury cars from the 1930's when many of them were still in service as used cars, and you havn't had that opportunity.

That dosnt make me any smarter than you. I just happened to have been born into a time when I got a chance to get hands on experience, that you dont have.

In other web-sites you have suggested I did not have a sixteen cyl. Cadillac, or a Rolls Phantom. Not clear why you get hostile. This is supposed to be for fun and education. It is a free country. We all benefit from your contributions from your apparently vast store of book-learning.

The problem is, as time evolves, and more and more young smart alecs decide to write books, well-meaning guys like you can read something that you couldnt possibly know is just plain nuts, and then go off on tangents that are inaccurate.

Fact is ALL Pierce V-12 versions were good engines in great cars. Fact is, Pierce was NEVER able to generate the kind of consumer loyalty that Packard did.

Of COURSE Packards in ANY price class werent all THAT much superior to any other car in a relevant price class, but they were GOOD. DAMN good buys for the money. No question SOME features, as I pointed out, such as the over-drive, made Pierce, in some respects, "better" than a Packard. But you really ought to drive some of these cars you like to talk about, to get a more accurate perspective.

Again, please accept my SINCERE thanks for your many contributions from your book-learning. I have learned things from you and your sources I would never have learned on my own.

BUT DONT TRY AND TELL ME A PIERCE V-12 WAS BETTER THAN A PACKARD V-12 !