Well, heck, as long as we've got an expert here, I just have to ask about that Packard Esquire.

I Googled it, and found the following link:

http://www.duricy.com/~imperialist/warren/warren_18.html

It comes complete with a "never-heard-of-such-a-thing" comment from someone.

Why have I never in all these years heard of the Esquire? Was it kind of a pre-Executive experiment or what? No pics of back or interior found, just the 3/4 front view in the linked pic.

Please enlighten us further!

(Lots and lots of really nice pics of many models on that site; really glad to share it with those who have not seen it.)

I thought the Caribbean was not assembled on the regular factory line, but in a specialty shop. Or was that just the finishing touches?

Well, there is a coat of arms, right inside the "bump in the middle" that carl pointed out, below the knight ornament. It's in the center of the black rectangle, and in the upper left-hand corner of that rectangle, you'll see an "F".

Here's the back of the gray car in the family grove...

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Very, very close, but no ceegar. The ornament might have been used on some Kaiser automobiles, but I think it was unique to the vehicle in your car photo... which is not a Kaiser.

(Hint) Enlarge the pic and look very closely at the letter in the upper lh corner of the square with the coat of arms in it.

Henry,

Good deal on those tires. I'm glad you're going with bias ply. I know some won't agree, but you've just been such a purist so far on this project, the correct tires are a nice touch. Besides, when these cars were new and for many years afterward, they had nothing on them but bias. That's the only tire I've ever had under the TL Packards I've driven, so I can't comment on any improvements with radials, but they sure handled nice with good 4-ply bias tires.

I'm not trying to start a controversy here, just sayin' I'm pleased with your choice.

I learn so much here! It's a great big world out there.

The Executive hardtop is one of my favorite V8 Packard models. I think they really got it right with that one, just the right amount of flash and sportiness, the best looking front (except possibly for the '55 Seniors--I'm torn--and a more understated, stylish back, with the coveted fish-mouth Clipper tail lights. And you could get 'em with a 374!(if you special ordered from the factory) The best power-to-weight ratio of any V8 Packard, I believe, would be the result.

I saw a very nice 4-door Exec over on Craig's List for a decent price, but there were... 4 doors.

Here's one of the ultimate pedestrian-nightmare hood ornaments.

(What kinda car is it? This time I won't give it away with the image title... it's a '51, though, I'll tell you that much.)

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Turbo,

What the heck is Bob's Road? It looks dangerous with the tornado and all...

Me, too. As I mentioned, the Lincoln Highway, which still has quite a few of the old original "Motor Courts" and pretty much follows its original route. Also, the River Road system goes most of the way down the Mississippi now.

You do see such interesting things, and meet nice people.

A couple of interesting things from Route 66 museum in Clinton OK:

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Why do they call it the "Patriot Network"?? Shouldn't it be the Expatriate Network? What's Patriotic about seceding? Isn't patriotism about sticking around and trying to fix the thing?

Anyway, I'd like to see them try to set up trade agreements, get international recognition, or even be able to support themselves on their own tax base. Oh yes, if you don't like high taxes, I wouldn't go this route. But if you don't like an orderly society with police and fire protection, a standing army, and a national currency that allows freedom of movement across the largest span of real estate in the world, then by all means it's the right thing to do.

For the rest of the country, we'll just have to can those plans to motor West--in a Packard or anything else (in keeping with the Packard theme, here). I mean, who's going to organize this confederacy? Survivalists from Idaho? Or just the loudest talker amongst the windbags who think these things up?

Don't worry, if the national government of the United States became a totalitarian dictatorship, which is what the constitution is guarding against, there would be a Nationwide uprising. Let's hope it never comes to that, like it almost did over the past 7 years.

That's all I'm sayin' about that.

Here are the railroad tracks just to the north of that stretch of mother road Route 66.

View is to the West, of course.

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