I admit the commercials got me excited because they were working on cars NOT Ferrari, jaguar, or mopar, which I am soooo tired of seeing!!! Like a VW Thing! BUT... Seeing how they do the work made me sad. Taking a severely rusted out car and spending $2k and a week on it before paint would make Earl Schieb proud!

Hi all.

I got to thinking last night about Packards and transmission options. I'm pondering my first post-war Packard purchase (well, 'dreaming' is more like it), and I guess I have always ONLY considered an automatic. Mostly for it's ease of driving in the city: we have traffic, and there is lots of stant-n-stop moving anywhere you go, even to car shows and the movies. I spent my first 28 years of driving in all sorts of stick shift cars, mostly small British stuff but also old Jeeps, Metros, Corvairs, etc.. And being honest with myself, I find now that comfort of driving is something that factors in to how much I enjoy my old cars, and how often I take them out.

I have driven 3 Packards, and all were automatics: A 52, a 54, and a 56 Executive. Nice driving all, although I admit the strait-8's were fairly... leisurely on acceleration. That is ok. I find that I am focusing more on the 46-54 models anyways mostly to avoid the extra mechanical and electrical complications of the 55-56 models. But I have never driven the 3-speed cars. Yes, I need to try one. That said...

First, I am curious about folks' thoughts on the merits of the manual shift post-war Packards. Good? Bad? Smooth shifting? Do you find yourself shifting all the time, or does the engine allow for less of that? Preference? And why?

Second, I guess I am curious as to why Packard, a luxury brand, made so many manual shift cars post-war? It seems like a low-end option for such a luxury make as Packard. Although I do not shop a lot of Caddys of the same era, I just do not recall seeing as many manual shift Caddys. No?

Thanks.
Mike

Well of course I googled it first.

Try it yourself! BBB has one consumer note, then haggleme floods the search engine with their own posts/pages/sales. It is how you "manage your web reputation"; there are companies do it for you. 3 pages deep into google with not one believable feedback on experiences with them. They put lots of effort into image management, I'll give them that!

Any new experiences with haggle_me dot com? Just curious. Positive reviews on forums always seem to be from new members' first posts, out of nowhere talking of great yet vague experiences. As Pat said: my BS meter is leaning to full... Thx

Rusty: EXACTLY. Rare Breed. But worth their weight in gold for the stories they can tell alone!

Tim: Thanks. If you find anyone, let me know. I am in NO RUSH at all. When I find someone, they can work at their pace. I'm fine with that.

Roger: Thanks. I'll call your friend in New Boston. If he is game, great. If not, no harm. Thank you.

Since my mention of my Valiant evoked some fond memories, I figure I owe you guys at least a photo of my "Road Toad". So here he is. Something about him screamed to me "buy me!" when I really did not need another project.

I love this web page and the people on it. Fun readings! Thanks.

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thanks Dave & Steve.

I'm also going to check with local clubs (such as our local Packard club, which I am a member of!). I have a few leads, and Roger also gave me one here.

I enjoy lurking about here in PI Forums reading about other folk's projects and cars. Good group here!

Someday, I'll get my dream Packard. For now, my Road Toad will keep me company!

thanks

Hi. Sorry. Clarification: 1962 Valiant. Rusty, ugly, beautiful.

Work needed per my original post: carb, power steering, fuel tank, some unibody repair.

CAR. Did not mean to give any offense about them. I am sure they are wonderful at what they do. But I did not get a very welcoming vibe there, and they were working some six-figure jobs that were out of my level of the food chain when I visited, so made the decision that they were not what I needed, and I moved on.

Perhaps the PI forum was not the place to ask this question. Sorry.

And I AM a member of MCP. Thanks!

Hi all.

Anyone know a mechanic that will go general work on classic cars in SE Michigan for someone who just does not have time to do all work himself? Preferably someone in the western/southern suburbs of Wayne, Monroe or Washtenaw counties?

(...and COMPLETE AUTO RESTORATIONS is too high-end for my rusty original drivers IMHO. They'd prob turn their nose up at my car. LOL)

Underbody steel, fuel tank, power steering, carbs, etc?

Thanks
JMG

Well I looked it over. I guess it is a $3,500 Packard: Inner rockers are pretty crispy & outer body has some puddy-n-paint ala Earl Schieb in it. Chrome was pretty pitted. Drove decent and the tranny was smooth. Original 60 year old interior.

Good candidate for a 'rat rod' or drive-till-it-drops, but too much money for that. If it was $2000 or so I would do it for giggles.

My quest or a solid original driver continues.

thanks!
Mike

Thanks all.

Sounds like shopping for pretty much every other old car. Good to know.

Yeah, I have been a long-time dreamer of owning a post-war Packard, but never had one. I came very close more than once... a disassembled 49.... a driver 56 executive... I want a relatively budget driver to get my feet wet in Packarddom.

I even joined the local club but have yet to join them for any events (daughters of 9 & 2 keep us busy). And I chatted with the two big Packard vendors at Hershey last year. I like Packard folks.

I do not think my wife gets my "Packard thing". LOL

I'll post what I see after I check it out this weekend.


BIGKEV - Ooooo - I read all your project posts about a year ago. I remember your name from them. You contributed to my Packard passion! >grin<


Mike