BigKev,

I like it, and also Brian's suggestion which you very swiftly responded to.

Princessxtn,

Had a look at your Packard in the owner registry - looks very good for having survived so much. Loved the story and history - there should be more like that!! Also was impressed with link for valuation of cars, not that it will do much for me here in Australia but it will be helpful for many as a reference, thanks. Welcome aboard.

Robert,

Going back to your original post, how did you at going finding accommodation? And was it at a reasonable price and reasonable distance from the action?

Reason I ask is I hope to make it there one year in the not too distant future.

Bill,

Welcome aboard, I'm sure you'll find this a rewarding and interesting site with plenty of people willing to offer advice or assistance.

Regarding the overdrive, I don't have any experience with these but having just imported a '41 120 Coupe from Idaho which is O/D equipped, but doesn't work although it's supposed to check out fine mechanically, so I'm about to find out! Yesterday I was speaking with some members of the Packard club here and the first thing they said was use the correct grade of oil in it as too heavy a grade can effect the operation of the O/D. As I learn more I'll let you know.

It would be good if you could complete an entry in the Owner Registry of the '41, including a pic and history, so we can all see and enjoy it.

Again, welcome.

Thankyou Tom,

But it seems to me you're up very late or up very early to be commenting at this time. At least I have an excuse, being in a completely different time zone across the International Date Line!

Well the Coupe arrived on Friday 28th September at 2:00pm approximately!

Prior to this, on Tuesday evening I received an email from the importer requesting bank cheques for his charges as well as those of his customs agent.

So on Wednesday, after I gave blood in the morning, in the afternoon my wife Kath and I drove to North Belmont a distance of about 85 miles. As we arrived at the importers property, Barry Smith was backing his car trailer in to pick up the '51 Convertible which had been imported for him. I took some photos for him of his '51 as well as a few of the '41. Barry said that although the '51 has a 327 he is going to drop in a rebuilt 327, the 4bbl version, and with the 3 speed manual and overdrive expects to have his own version of a hotted up Packard using all in-house parts.

But back to the '41 - looked just like I had last seen it in California on 3rd August. I had brought a recharged battery with me, because the importer advised it wouldn't start when they were taking it out of the container. After replacing the battery and with a little gas down the throat of the carb to prime it, it started easily although I didn't take it for a drive, it sounded good and ran well. Then with Barry's '51 loaded up and on the journey to it's new home in country New South Wales at Tamworth, about 200 plus miles north west from North Belmont, we concluded our business and Kath and I returned to Sydney.

I had also contacted a haulage contractor with a tilt bed truck and booked him to pick up the '41 on Friday from North Belmont and deliver to me that day. I had also decided that pick up of the '41 didn't require my presence so I anxiously awaited it's arrival which occurred about 2:00pm. One thing I noticed while it was on the tilt tray was a small "ding" at the bottom of the right rear fender - looks like it could be in-transit damage, but where and when this occurred between Middleton Idaho via Orange California and Newcastle and North Belmont, New South Wales, Australia I don't know!

Backed the '41 off the tilt tray and up the driveway and into the front of the cleared garage. Then, after the truckie had left, took some pictures of it in the garage. Then drove it out to take more pictures in the natural light and with my '38. However, then couldn't start the '41 which had run out of gas as the tank had been almost drained for safety reasons before being placed in the container for the trip to Australia. A couple of gallons of gas later and with Kath directing me into the garage in my LHD '41 and I was off again. As you married men will know, it is generally not a good idea to involve your better half in such an activity - but enough said! Parked both cars in the garage, which I now find needs to be at least a foot longer than it is to accommodate both!

Therefore, my next project must be relocation of the workbench from the back wall of the garage to the side wall(this will involve some major surgery to the workbench because of intruding buttresses at awckward intervals along this wall). I will also have to re-swing the door from the garage to the back room so it opens into the room and not the garage. This way I'll be able to accommodate both cars in the garage and still have access to the back room.

But again back to the '41. Strange, how after the initial adrenalin burst has worn off, some things appear that you didn't previously notice. Like heavier pitting of the chrome around the headlights, handbrake almost inoperative and shock absorbers needing replacement. This besides some of the known - radio missing knobs and not working, overdrive not working, king pins need replacement as well as windscreen wipers. And the unknown - Condition of engine, clutch, transmission, rear end, brakes, cooling system, steering and lights - did I leave anything out? I didn't mention the body as this looks good to my very untrained eye and I am hopeful that it is OK - there will just be some cosmetics with rechroming of the bumpers and over-riders as the major item.

Below are 2 links:

First - pictures of the '41 & '51 Convertible


http://picasaweb.google.com/ozstatman/BarrySmith51Convertible


Second - pictures of the '41's arrival


http://picasaweb.google.com/ozstatman/41Arrives

Will further update as the '41's mechanicals are assessed and work undertaken.

Attach file:

---

  (52.59 KB)

Tom,

Pleased to see the photo's of your car, it look's good.

Tom,

Don't know how many miles were put on in the last 20 years as Peter tells me the odometer hasn't worked for a long time. I do know that he travelled and rallied extensively in it with the family, even going to Tasmania a round trip of well over 2,000 miles and that he had to pay for 2 car spaces(because of it's size) on the ferry over Bass Strait from Melbourne to Davenport!

I've owned it now for just over 4 months and take it out at least weekly and have been to 3 rallies. About every second week we drive to my wife's sisters place, a round trip of about 60 miles. Total mileage in my hands = 1,400 per trip meter.

Tom,

See attached link for pictures of the interior of my '38 Sedan.

Will update Project Blog later today on the progress of my '41 Coupe as it's due to arrive in the next 1 to 2 hours.

I still am debating on a color for my car Blue, Maroon, or the original Brown/tan color. But I do have some time to make a decision.[/quote]

Tom,

IMHO original colors are always good. But in saying that, it is YOUR car and you have to like and be happy with the color chosen. So whatever color you choose will be fine.

I haven't forgotten the pictures of the interior of my '38 - will try to get to that soon.