43 out of 48 or 90%. A bit rusty on the Nash and Kaiser. Unfortunately, most of the independents were gone by the time I came around.

As "Volter" Cronkite used to say, "And that's the way it is......"

On a related issue - has anyone seen a 6 volt jump starter? I have been looking for one and have only seen 12 volt machines.

i love the way she takes care of that car, including putting the towel on the running board before she steps on it!

Happy Canada Day from us in Connecticut also! We love to visit Montreal and all the beautiful places up north.

Please come and visit us at the Greenwich Concours the first weekend each June. There are spectacular cars on display each year, including great Packards. This year we had a 1931 833 Dual Cowl Phaeton, a 1934 1108 Dietrich Convertible sedan, a 1937 Super 8 1502 convertible, a 1939 1277 convertible and a 1942 Super 8 convertible Victoria . Other makes included a 1925 Bugatti Type 35A/51 Grand Prix, a 1929 Duesenberg Model J 113, a 1946 Alfa 6C2500 Competizione coup, a 1938 Delage D8-120S aereosport coupe and others!. So come on down!

Packard Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin Star at Christie's

By Katya Kazakina


May 25 (Bloomberg) -- Time is money for watch collectors as unique pieces from the collection of U.S. car manufacturer James Ward Packard (1863-1928) head for the auction block at Christie's International next month.

Kept for 60 years in a bank vault, the four timepieces have a presale estimate of $454,000 to $906,000. The group will star in Christie's Important Watches sale on June 15, expected to tally as much as $8.5 million.

A founder of Packard Motor Car Co. in 1902, Packard was "the godfather of watch collectors," said Sam Hines, head of watches for Christie's Americas and Asia. He "had watches customized for him by the brands."

A 20-karat-gold Vacheron Constantin has Packard's signature Art Nouveau monogram in blue enamel and a presale estimate of $250,000 to $500,000. Made in 1919. it strikes every hour and every quarter.

Handwritten operating instruction that accompany the watch might have been written by Packard, Hines said.

The second highlight of the group is a previously unrecorded 18-karat gold minute-repeater that Packard commissioned from Patek Philippe in 1918. Its estimate is $200,000 to $400,000. One of 17 watches the Swiss firm made specifically for Packard, this minute-repeater has a power reserve and an unusual Murat-style case.

The remaining pieces are two 19th-century pocket watches that belonged to Packard's father, Warren Packard, and were made by American Watch Co.

The Patek Philippe comes with an original box, original certificate, a spare crystal and two spare main springs, Hines said. All four pieces are being sold by Packard's descendants.

"The watches have all the attributes the market is looking for today," Hines said, listing the brand, complications, condition, provenance and completeness.

"When the watch carries all of those, there're a lot of potential collectors who might want them," he said.

To contact the reporter of this story: Katya Kazakina in New York at kkazakina@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: May 25, 2011 00:01 EDT

Congratulations! That is a one fantastic car! The guys on this site are a great source of information and Big Kev keeps things humming for all of us. I look forward to the detailed photos as you bring this automobile to perfection!

George

I think it means we will have to have very large stockings to get all the things we want for our Packards for Christmas!!!

Maybe the ones who don't appreciate such puns are Wired differently but for us who are well Grounded, that's not Shocking at all, just very Illuminating. Sorry, I was on a roll there and just kept on Buzzing....

Thanks for that information about the disconnected defroster tubes.

Now that I look at those tubes they do look a bit lonely and disconnected there. I originally thought they may just distribute air from the heater or outside air from the blower throughout the car and that there were separate tubes in the back for the defroster. I guess not. Does the heater have a separate blower or do I just open up those two doors in the front of the heating unit for heat circulation?