about 3 weeks ago I woke up one morning and decided that after 20 years of working on various Mercedes models, it might be time (in the remainder of my life) to devote to an American car. I immediatelly thought of the Packard and it had to be pre-war. Over the course the last 10 years I have been learning html, website applications and developed 2 website clubs devoted to Mercedes 1931 to 1961.

After extensive searching, I finally found a 36 project car around Toledo, Ohio and went up to get it. The image attached in this post is one from a blackberry I took after we rolled Junior out of the garage. The Owner had it stored in his garage for 13 years, and had purchased it from an Estate in Saginaw, Michigan. He basically had too many projects and like most of us, wanted to see it get a good home and attention.

I bought the car not knowing about the engine condition, but it appeared 98% complete. The interior was toast, and had standard amounts of rust.

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Owen>>>the oil fills a reservoir which then gradually over time feeds fresh lubricant; the driving force for the king pins is gravity, and for the universal joints is centrifugal force. Grease on the other hand is not mobile and cannot continue to provide fresh lubrication.

Perhaps related to this, is the Central lube system of the pre-war Mercedes, which I have some knowledge of. There is a plunger down by the clutch pedal. The manuals call for pushing on this once every 500 miles. On the firewall, there is a magnesium cannister (which contains 90 weight hypoid oil) (which is actually fairly thin)... the action of the plunger feeds various lines going to steering knuckles and tie rods. The fluid actually goes into a reservoir (a junction box with separate caps) and under some pressure lubricates these parts. I think the oiling of these pre-war front suspension parts prevents less wear and adds to some eternal functionality many years later. Wear comes from the friction of 2 metal parts without lubrication.; the oil provides a film causing less wear.

Is this Mercedes Lube description similar to the Packard Bijur Chassis Lube system?

Portlandon says >> Hey are Packards tax deductible?
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Hi Portlandon; I used to live in your fair city back in 1991-1993; great place!

I now work as a contract independent for the State of Kentucky and drive my personal vehicle for business use. I'm certain that the IRS wouldn't care if I press into service the 1936 Junior, once she is purring down the streets of Frankfort. As a dichotomy, I actually live in colorado, and there, the daily commuters would blow by me at high rate of speeds, although I recall years ago, when my dad was 86 and I was riding with him, he would obstinately drive in the passing lane at 40mph; saw more birds flipped that day than ever. I also threatened to get my dad a bumper sticker that said "I may be slow, but I'm a head of you"

Ya I should have known....

the number from the first line of the plate is:

992 21915

the X number is shown on the title.

Update: turns out the X number is the engine number which was used to register the car. I have heard on several occassions and can be a pain to get changed in some states.

Owen>>>If you get a chance, I'd like to have your vehicle #, and the large embossed number on the firewall. Thanks.

The numbers are {drum roll + cymbal crash}

VIN = X68592
Embossed Number = 268I40

thanks for all the replies - totally logical.

I'm feeling rather spunky tonight....after removing the front fenders and grill, and the head and squirting some magic fluid in the cylinders, I put a wrench on the crank nut and the engine turned with (what appears to be) good compression. I bought it on the premise that the engine might be frozen. The PO (previous owner) had it in his garage for 13 years and (alas) had too many car projects to contend with). He got it from an estate in Saginaw, Michigan. The interior is toast, but 98% complete and now a useable engine. Does it get any better than this?

My very 1st post after buying my 1st Packard (project) 2 weeks ago. It's a 1936 Junior 120B with straight 8, and I like a kid (make that old kid) with a new toy at Xmas.
I've already logged in about 40 hours of labor (beyond my fulltime job), removing fenders, interior, etc...and this weekend I hope to determine the condition of the engine.

Buying the Packard was a deviation for me, after spending about 20 years with several Mercedes models and developing a couple of club websites.

I'm soaking-up all the information I can find on the internet, but one question leaves me puzzled so far.... Why did Packard make an useable sunroof?
I'm accustom to the Webasto (circa 1929) canvas sunroof 42 x 54 in my 1953 mercedes, but it is fully functional.

Was an actual sunroof available for the Packard ?
Thanks to everyone for an active Forum on this great moniker.

Axman the taxman in Kentucky

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