Re: Adventures with a 1955 Clipper
Posted by JWL On 2011/6/20 11:27:53
Hello All,
I thought that before I continue with the story of the work I am doing on the Clipper, you all might enjoy these photos from the former owner, Dwight Heinmuller.
As I mentioned in the first posting the Clipper had been in the Heinmuller family for 40 years (1970 - 2010). According to Dwight, it was purchased from the original owner who bought it from Zell Motor Cars, the long-time Packard dealer in Baltimore, Maryland. The first photo is of the Zell show room taken in 1953, a couple of years before the 1955 Clipper may have occupied one of the spaces pictured.
The next photo is of James Nance departing the Clipper at the 1978 PAC national meet in Annapolis, Maryland. Dwight provided transportation for Nance and his assistant in the Clipper when they were guests at the meet. Dwight told me that Nance said: "Dwight, I don't remember these cars riding this smoothly." And, this is a regular suspension Clipper. Anybody recognize others in the photo?
The next series of photos were taken when Dwight took the Clipper to Detroit in 2003 for a "Grand Tour" to visit the Plant, Proving Grounds, and the former engine and transmission assembly facility. The Conner Avenue plant was long gone by the time this photo was taken, having been demolished by Chrysler in 1961.
While on this journey, he had a passenger for part of the way, Carl Altz, a former PMMC test driver (1934 - 1956). There was a story about the passing of Mr. Altz in the November 2009 issue of The Cormorant News Bulletin. He served as a resource in the early days of the Proving Grounds restoration project. I like the one with he and his wife at their home in front of the Clipper.
There is a photo of the Clipper in front of the Visteon plant. The plant, which is next to the Proving Grounds, was built in 1951 for GE jet engine manufacture and was later used by PMCC for the assembly of engines and transmissions for the 1955-56 models.
The photos from the proving grounds show progress beginning on the restoration project in 2003. Note the blue tarp covering the top of the water tower and the construction on the other side of the fence.
The PMCC plant photos capture the facility before the worst of the destruction and vandalizism that was yet to come.
The final photo is of the Clipper being delivered to me in Austin, Texas.
I am pleased to share these photos with you. It gives me a sense of admiration to know the Clipper has traveled to these sites and had these two distinguished passengers. Thanks, Dwight.
Take care.
(o{I}o)
Attach file:
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(127.67 KB)
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(73.57 KB)
(71.87 KB)
(129.75 KB)
(85.40 KB)
(99.81 KB)
(108.14 KB)
(57.62 KB)
I thought that before I continue with the story of the work I am doing on the Clipper, you all might enjoy these photos from the former owner, Dwight Heinmuller.
As I mentioned in the first posting the Clipper had been in the Heinmuller family for 40 years (1970 - 2010). According to Dwight, it was purchased from the original owner who bought it from Zell Motor Cars, the long-time Packard dealer in Baltimore, Maryland. The first photo is of the Zell show room taken in 1953, a couple of years before the 1955 Clipper may have occupied one of the spaces pictured.
The next photo is of James Nance departing the Clipper at the 1978 PAC national meet in Annapolis, Maryland. Dwight provided transportation for Nance and his assistant in the Clipper when they were guests at the meet. Dwight told me that Nance said: "Dwight, I don't remember these cars riding this smoothly." And, this is a regular suspension Clipper. Anybody recognize others in the photo?
The next series of photos were taken when Dwight took the Clipper to Detroit in 2003 for a "Grand Tour" to visit the Plant, Proving Grounds, and the former engine and transmission assembly facility. The Conner Avenue plant was long gone by the time this photo was taken, having been demolished by Chrysler in 1961.
While on this journey, he had a passenger for part of the way, Carl Altz, a former PMMC test driver (1934 - 1956). There was a story about the passing of Mr. Altz in the November 2009 issue of The Cormorant News Bulletin. He served as a resource in the early days of the Proving Grounds restoration project. I like the one with he and his wife at their home in front of the Clipper.
There is a photo of the Clipper in front of the Visteon plant. The plant, which is next to the Proving Grounds, was built in 1951 for GE jet engine manufacture and was later used by PMCC for the assembly of engines and transmissions for the 1955-56 models.
The photos from the proving grounds show progress beginning on the restoration project in 2003. Note the blue tarp covering the top of the water tower and the construction on the other side of the fence.
The PMCC plant photos capture the facility before the worst of the destruction and vandalizism that was yet to come.
The final photo is of the Clipper being delivered to me in Austin, Texas.
I am pleased to share these photos with you. It gives me a sense of admiration to know the Clipper has traveled to these sites and had these two distinguished passengers. Thanks, Dwight.
Take care.
(o{I}o)
Attach file:
(91.88 KB)
(174.40 KB)
(127.67 KB)
(95.88 KB)
(73.57 KB)
(71.87 KB)
(129.75 KB)
(85.40 KB)
(99.81 KB)
(108.14 KB)
(57.62 KB)
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