Hey Guys.

As a roster keeper for PAC, I have an extensive list of "Packards in the Movies" that I have added to from time to time from various contributors as well as the data base that you mentioned. Attached is the list. BTW I don't have Daredevil Drivers"

Wasn't there another later, next-gen Monte Carlo concept?

Perhaps you're referring to the Balboa or Balboa-X? At least two were built, both surviving I'm told in the Ralph Marano collection here in NJ. they were based on the Reinhart body and built in 1952 or so. There is at least one vintage picture of it taken from a bit of a distance in a factory (perhaps Packards), and I also have a fairly recent picture taken when it was at Stone Barn restoration shop in NJ, I'll see if I can find it. It featured a reverse-sloping rear window not unlike some much later Mercurys.

Back to the Monte Carlo for a minute, no doubt many more pictures were taken at the time but apparently haven't surfaced. I'd love to see the rear end treatment, it almost looks like a stock trunk lid but with vestiges of fins on the rear fenders.

EDIT: Here are two vintage pictures of the Balboa, courtesy of the very fine Nat Dawes book Packard 1942-1962, a book which no fan of the postwar Packards should be without. Further comments from the Dawes book indicate the Balboa was built from a 1953 Caribbean with a fiberglass removeable hardtop and the unique rear window.

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Wow! A bathtub with fins. Pretty radical. I agree with Kip56 that the crest should have been moved back. The rear window is vaguely reminiscent of the Studebaker wrap-around. The lower body chrome treatment looks more 22nd series than 23rd. I thought they discontinued the 'Custom Club Sedan' body style effective with the 23rd series. Whatever they started out with it's great to see the photo. Thanks for posting it.

Thanx for that Pic Owen; I'd not seen it before.

The wrap at the top of the backlight is a bit much for my tastes, but the styling is nonetheless stunning. Too bad it didn't lead to an actual product car, in the way that the PanAm begat the Caribbean, but you're right. It was too late coming out of the gate.

Wasn't there another later, next-gen Monte Carlo concept?

Look more closely and you'll see that the screw-type clamp is incorrect. It is actually a double-wire clamp, not the authentic strap design.

The correct style of clamp for the water pump manifold inlet came up in a thread some years ago at the AACA Packard DF. It also got the attention of at least one longstanding AACA member, as it challenged a decades-old judging standard that cars made during a certain period, including our beloved 1951-54 and 1955-56 Packards, use their specified clamp that is nothing like what is shown in the factory references.

I still have pix of the correct style clamp that I posted then, and will post them here, this evening.

Thanks for sharing that picture. I had heard of the Monte Carlo but had never seen a picture of it. The rear deck resembles a Buick Sedanette and the C pillar reminds me of the Ford Starliner's. The rear window must have seemed radical for the era. The crest on the fender looks somewhat out of place. Closer to the cowl might have looked cleaner. A great looking car.

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It looks like Gen'l MacArthur has as many cars attributed to him as Jesse James has revolvers.

terrellda,

I can't help you on tracking your car's history. But it is nice to read that you are trying to bring the car back to it's original state and keeping up on the history of it.

And one more thing thank you to you for serving our country. Please be safe out there.

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G'day Mitch,

Call him Eric, I do and so do the rest on board here!

I see you come from Nampa Idaho, near to Middleton where I bought my '41 Coupe last year. Also do you know Earl 'Doc' Gulley who was the previous owner of the Coupe and lives at Caldwell and had about 10 Packards when I visited him last year when I bought the Coupe?

And could you please add your '29 Speedster to the Owner Registry and your Dad's '48 together with pic's, and histories if known?

Sorry Eric for going

Now to return to normal programming

Mitch, it sounds like you and I are essentially doing the same car, more or less. As for your father's engine, it was a 5 main, Packard only made 5 main and 9 main straight eights.

Most of my rpm's will be in the sub-3000 range, with occasional bursts upwards for $hits and giggles. This is where the turbo's come in.

As for my carburetor choice, it's still up in the air, but I'm leaning towards my '56 Patrician Rochester 4gc, converted to E85 use. (If possible)

And therein lies the big secret, E85, with 8:1 compression with about a total of 12:1 compression, if she'll handle it. Keep in mind that this is not going to be a stock rebuild by any means. A lot of special touches will be involved, all to be revealed in good time.

As for your '30 Super Eight, I'd try to find a '36 Super Eight, as it'd be cheaper to overhaul than the babbitt '30.

And of course you can call me Eric!

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