Re: If you are under sixty, how did you get interested in Packards?

Posted by Dave Schmick On 2012/10/30 8:34:29

I'm 52 and was always interested in owning an old car, but a Navy career, plus wife, plus seven children over the years always made it a bit impractical...if not expensive. Finally, 5 years ago, I happened to see my 50 Super on eBay close to my office. Went to look at it, and I was hooked. It's very hard to beat the prestige/cost ratio of the 48-50 models, and with those seven children still living at home, affordability was still a big factor. I would think that with young folks, affordability would be the biggest driver in these economically-challenged times.

But my BIGGEST advice to all of us out there is this. When I participate in a car show, I'm consistently discouraged to see owners who remain planted in their lawn chairs while folks are looking at their cars. Perhaps that's OK to some extent, but when I see someone with a CHILD nearing my car, I get up and walk over and immediately ask the child if they would like to sit behind the wheel. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a child totally AMAZED at the offer (along with the parent). The child gets in, the parent grabs their camera for a pic, and both have smiles a mile wide. For them, it's a refreshing break from looking at all the other cars that have DON'T TOUCH signs on them. And when that child goes home that day, they will have a memory...and if luck prevails, they will also remember (with the help of the parent) that it was a Packard that they got to sit in. That experience can have a profound impact on that child years later...hopefully influencing their choice of a hobby (and the right car for it)!