JW, I believe I saw your car on the lift at the Speedwell Garage when Ross was working on it. I've been following your posts with much interest. You have one heck of a fine car! Enjoy!

54clipper. Thanks for replying to my post. I have a 52 200 and no one besides Ross Miller has touched it since I've owned it. Been going to Ross's garage for at least 5 years and try to drop by a couple of times a month when he is in town. Maybe I could meet you up there some time and we can see each others cars there? Let me know if you want my phone number.

54Clipper, welcome to Packardinfo. You have a stunning machine! Very similar to the one my father had in the late 50's. I live in Havre de Grace and travel to Ellicot City from time to time, perhaps in the future we could get together so I could see your car up close?

William, welcome to the forum! Having a visitor from South Africa should help to round out the field of the international contributors found here. Keep us posted on the progress of the Packard community there, I for one am certainly interested.

Tim, I've been following your posts with interest. Congratulations on a fine looking Packard! I lived in Honolulu many years ago and spent about 6 months on the Big Island and never saw a Packard. Am curious about how the car ended up in Hilo. Was it always on the Big Island or did it come from Honolulu? Again, congrats on a great discovery! Happy Motoring!

Congratulations to "Big Kev" and to all who make this a great site! Kev, you and all the great contributors to this forum have given me many hours of enjoyable reading!

I've been following this with interest since it first popped up and I'd like to chime in with my own experience. Now that I'm deep into the middle of "middle age" I would like to relate my experience. Back in the early 70's when the "old man" would let me learn how to drive using his car the first thing he told me was not to push too hard on the brakes. Most of my dad's cars were Buicks, Olds and Pontiacs and my grandmother even let me drive her Caddy. What each one of these cars had in common was a set of fantastic power breaks! I learned very quickly not to push too hard as it would be face to the windshield time. The heal and toe method that Ross spoke of is exactly how I learned how to drive these cars. I think the issue may be generational. If you grew up in the 60's and early 70's cars and their safety systems were so much different than they are today. For me, the BTV system is completely normal.

Owen, you are correct; that is the shop I'm referring to just could not remember the street name offhand. Been by many times, just never went in.

Ross, there is another plate shop up in the Frankford section of town but have not done business with them yet. When I get the contact info for you I'll send it. N.E.L is not that far away from the shop I'm referencing now.

Ross, The plater I used is N.E.L Metal Restorations at 2127-35 Margaret Street in Philadelphia 19124. Phone is 215-289-4944. By the way,they charged me $180.00 to do my trunk handle. The shop is not difficult to find but tricky for someone who does not know Philly real well. From what I've seen it seems to be a full service shop and the staff seems to know what they are doing. They had a lot of stuff on the shelves waiting for pick-up or shipping every time I've been in. Have not been there for a couple of years but I think they still advertise in "Old Cars Weekly" at least they did when I was still getting "Old Cars" in the mail