Hi David,

Finally, someone who knows as little as I do! What year is your car? I have been on a hunt for several small parts for a 1929 senior car since I was in college (thirty years ago). So, you probably know that the east coast is more the parts bin for pre-war cars. There are a bunch of names you will find on the internet if you google "Packard parts"...Max Merritt, etc. There are a few guys here in California who have parts, but I am finding that parts for the earlier cars are becoming more scarce. I have a list of potential parts guys that I have assembled from my search. leave me an email on the website if you want and I will respond. Most of them are the ones you probably know about...no real secrets.

Hi David,

Thanks. I grew up looking at this car, but obviously not close enough. If there was some sort of felt padding there it is long gone.

Hi all,

I am back at the oracle to be educated by those who know. I am working on the thermostatic shutters on my car (1929 Seven Passenger Sedan). There are small "u" shaped steel strips (about an eighth of an inch wide) welded about every six inches around the perimeter of the shutter frame...right where it would otherwise rub up against the back of the chrome plated radiator shroud. They stand straight out from the shutter about a quarter of an inch (havent measured them exactly) Well, besides most of them being bent into grotesque shapes, several of them have been torn off completely....no doubt I will be re-shaping and welding these little critters back on.

Here is my question...what purpose do they serve? Were they the early version of weatherstrip clips? If so, where do I find the weatherstrip, and what was it made of? If not, are they just spacers to keep the shutters from rattling against the shroud? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

John Wogec

Hi Ray,

Thanks very much. Can I ask you to send me the contact information for your tool expert? I will make arrangements to find him at Hershey. Thanks again for your response.

Hello,

Once again, the people on this site have renewed my sometimes misguided belief that I can actually complete the restoration of this art deco era masterpiece. Thank you for the information. Thanks again!

Hi all,

I keep discovering things that my car (1929 Seven Passenger Sedan)is missing...the latest is the tools that once existed in that vinyl (sort of) tool kit that lives in the front passenger kick panel. All that remains of mine are the six empty little pouches where tools once lived. I have seen some tools on E-Bay in the last few days which the seller claims are the "factory" tools. I know nothing of this topic, so my questions are numerous:
1. What tool should actually occupy these 6 empty spaces?
2. Was there a "factory" manufacturer?
3. Are they hard to find?
4. are they something I might find at Hershey...making my first trip this year.
5. Are they insanely expensive if I do find them?
6. as with so many other items (as I am learning), are there one or two sources where someone might acquire said tools?

Will someone please educate me on this topic. As always, I am forever indebted to the accumulated knowledge on this site. Please don't any of you go away until I have learned all you know!

If you need the dimensions of the core, it is 21 and 1/8 inches wide and 25 inches tall.

I have the 1929 Seven Passenger Sedan, which I am pretty sure has the same radiator as your dual cowl phaeton, as they were both on the 145 inch wheelbase with the straight eight engine. I had mine re-cored years ago with a diamond core. What dimensions do you need?

Hi Alex,
Based on the photo, the engine looks exactly like that in my 1929 Seven Passenger Sedan. Ironically, I have recently seen the correct distributor, carburetor and manifold for this engine on Ebay. As for what it may take to get it running...I have no idea. I am not to that point yet in my project. However, in speaking to those who know, these engines are fairly simple and straightforward, so I am hopeful that mine will cooperate when the time comes.

Hi gz,

I recently went on a similar quest to find out what I could about my car, which has been in the family since 1930...and shrouded in some controversy as to how it was acquired. I found that doing a search of old newspapers may shed some light.

As regards my car, all I had to go on was a statement from a now deceased uncle that my car was purchased from a dealer named "Carruthers" in Salt Lake City. I wasn't smart enough to ask my dad the same question when he was alive.

A few days ago I did an internet search on "Carruthers" and "Packard dealer" and got a hit about a court case in 1916 involving a C.N. Carruthers who was the Manager of Inter-Mountain Motor car Company at 434 South Main Street in Salt Lake City. Seems Mr. Carruthers and a friend of his had borrowed the dealers "loaner" car to go visit a young lady after work, and apparently wound up injuring her with the car. Entertaining reading.

I also got an article from the Salt Lake Tribune dated July 2, 1916 which interviews "C.N. Carruthers of Inter-Mountain Motor Car Company". So, it may be coincidence, but my best guess is that my car was purchased from Inter-Mountain...you never know what you may find if you go looking. It seems like there is information out there...like the dealership information on this site...you just need to figure out where to look. The folks on this site are definitely a great starting point.