Gumby

Almost everybody had electric start and generating system by 1914. It was such a crying need that there was no reason to not install it. There were many systems in the market besides the Delco system. Dodge, for one, used a starter/generator in the same unit.

The holdout, of course, was Ford. They did not offer it until 1919 and then as an option. Post 1919 Model T's without a starter still carried oil cowl lamps.

Maybe Henry felt the starter polluted the purity of the "Universal Car" or something, but I'm willing to bet it had to do with paying royalties, and his vexed relationship with Cadillac. He founded what became Cadillac before the Ford Motor Company, but got thrown out by the bankers for fooling around with race cars.

Which is why he was carried to his grave in Packard hearse

Regards

John Harley

49

You should get a Motor's manual for that time period. It will have a lot of general information plus specific procedures for the components that Packard bought from outside vendors . You can find them on the auction site or at literature vendors. Dig around on the service manual section here, I just found the PMCC tune up manual for that era

Regards

John Harley

Friends

I invited George Hamlin to speak at the 1995 annual dinner of the late Eastern Packard Club. His topic was this subject.

Before the Packard/AMC agreement Packard was quoted a set of prices for various body stampings. After the agreement was signed, the prices essentially doubled. George was reading us a list of price changes straight from a Studebaker/Packard document.

The change was directly laid at Romney's feet. It was a sobering moment and a room full of usually boisterous people was remarkably quiet.



Regards

John Harley

Friends

Drives "excellenty", not well?

42's had starter switch in gas pedal not on dash board. Starter button on "41 is on other side of the steering wheel and has a plastic button. Has cast iron thermostat housing of a 356.

Starter turns over too fast for 356 gear reduction and there is tappet noise at idle, not heard on a 356

Nice car otherwise. Has merit on its own identity, doesn't need "improvement"

Regards

John Harley

Friends

About 20 years ago I spent a day at the Studebaker Museum at its old location. At that point the Studebaker plant was still standing, I don't know if it still is or not. It was enjoyable but very sad. Much of the economy of South Bend was dependent on Studebaker, but the plant reminded the citizens daily that it was all gone.

Bully for them for not letting such an important enterprise to be forgotten

Best

John Harley

Mal

Nice car, but Owen's is impeccable . I spend a lot of time around and in his.

Best wishes to you !

John Harley

Bryan

I'm living that difference. I sold a very well running 1950 Eight when I bought a 1941 160 sedan. Both cars were out of estates in Westchester County and both suffer from the work of previous owners. The 160 has had a very hard life and is needier than I wish it to be.

I just spent much of my vacation time this week packing the shift mechanism with washers so I can drive it without grinding gears or locking the shift arm. I appear to be successful. However I did some wondering about the twisted minds of men while underneath the car wrestling with the splashers and such.

Good luck with the 180, I hope that has been taken care of

Regards

John Harley

Bryan

I thought the intent of the Clippers was to jump ahead of the 60 Special styling . Seems to me the LeBarons were the last gasp of selling "custom" cars to the remains of the carriage trade

Best

John Harley

That's known as a "Riviera" interior option. They were contrasting colors that complimented the exterior color. They are listed in the 1941 mid year bulletin to the dealers when paint colors were added and dropped.

I have a copy of it on my computer somewhere. I think I found it on this site. If not, I can post it. The colors and interior trim in the salesman's book, dealer's book , parts list, and mid year bulletins are slightly inconsistent

Regards

John Harley

Dave, et al

The figures are in Robert Neal's books. Packard's profits after WWII were in the non auto lines, i.e. defense work was subsidizing the automobiles.The numbers are very sobering. Packard had many problems but taking the defense work away was a shot to the head

Regards

John Harley