Re: Getting folks involved with Packards?

Posted by Anthony Pallett On 2012/2/12 21:27:50

This is a very interesting topic to say the least. I'm in the younger (I'm 27) crowd and other than my own 52 i have no first hand Packard memories and to be honest when I bought mine I wasn't even looking for a Packard but a deal came up and I couldn't pass it by. Sense then I have grown to dearly love them as well as other orphan cars such as Hudson I just got tired of cookie cutter 55-57 Chevy's and all like that. If you want more people interested in our particular niche you need to get out there with your cars. I'm well aware that some Packard autos are almost literally worth their weight in gold but a late 40's to mid 50's Packard not so much. Go to local cruise nights and car shows and dare I say even the street rod nationals if need be. The older gents at car shows (in reference to the cookie cutter 55 Chevy crowd)are usually very busy power parking at shows and reliving some fantasy of American Graffiti/ Happy Days to give a young guy the time of day at most shows, be the one who is different let a teenager sit in it at a show answer questions inform and educate start it up for people so they can see how smooth it runs all the while telling them what makes them so special. Honestly any Packard will never be as popular as the more common cars the numbers just are not there but you have to make a change one person at a time. My high school luckily had an auto shop and I know my shop teacher would have had no problem bringing out a club to show off what can be done in the auto profession, and you never know some of those kids are very gifted and might even offer to help with your project. In summary no one will gain interest if your car is sitting gathering dust in the garage you have to get out and enjoy these cars as they were meant to be.