Quote:
Owen_Dyneto wrote:
Here's a picture of the Monte Carlo (II), taken at the Earle C. Anthony dealership in San Francisco in 1953. This photograph has been republished from time to time, too bad the quality isn't better. It doesn't have external spares (plural) as was noted in an older reference source, and the wheels are no doubt Motor Wheel Corporation, not Kelsey Hayes. There is also a frontal view which shows the Caribbean-style air scoop, but with a cormorant (wings down) hood ornament. Frankly, I think it's awkward looking, not enough wheelbase to carry the lines for one thing.
Agreed on the looks. Not much wonder these Monte Carlos disappeared pretty quickly.
Also agreed this is a really good thread.
Can't tell about closure yet, though.
I think Kimes uses the term "spares" because they are referring to TWO 1952 Mayfair hardtops that were to be converted by Henney:
"...with 1953 style bumpers, headlight rims, fender and body moldings, deck lid ornaments and grilles. The Monte Carlos had wire wheels, exterior spares..." (p. 554, Packard, a History of the Motorcar and the Company, General Edition, Beverly Rae Kimes, Ed., Automobile Quarterly pub. 1978)
Here's a little more info on the Kelsey-Hayes wheels from Kimes:
"Some production of Pan Americans was definitely planned--at least by Henney. On March 13th (1952) Preston Boyd wrote that he had mentioned to Packard 'the necessity of having some sort of a tentative price . . . Of course, one of the chief problems is to know how many [Packard] wants to run or commit itself for, which will be a determining factor . . . if it is to be offered with wire wheels it will mean complete tooling for production of these, which will be rather costly.' (The wheels eventually selected were bought from Kelsey-Hayes, cutting costs considerably.)" [Ibid.] Emphasis added.
So, did the few Pan Americans get out on the roads with K-H wire wheels? Well, there's a picture of one, prominently showing a front wheel, on page 555 of Kimes. I'm no expert, but I know people here that are and have the Kimes book. I'll leave it up to you to identify the wheel. It's beyond me.
One of the BEST bits of closure I can think of is the CARIBBEAN, which was, after all this building and testing (exciting as it is) of project cars, the ultimate production car that resulted and tore up the roads for a few glorious years.
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