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namesake!

Mal,

You've been a good Steward and Caretaker for the '41. When it all comes to it, that is all we are, caretakers until the next owner who will love the car comes along.

I also find with some folks the joy is getting the car back on the road. The finding the parts, and sorting the car. Once the part is done, then the "thrill of the hunt" diminishes for some people.

I fight that with wanting to get stuff done on the car, and then not having the gumption to go do it. But once I finally get out in the garage, then I tend to plow through things until interrupted then the procrastination process starts all over again.

Maybe once I have the car sorted to the point where I can drive it anywhere without wondering when the transmission is going to fall out of the car, then I hope be driving it much more. Until then, I know it every drive is a living on borrowed time.

Perhaps another project with light the flame once again!

"Perhaps another project will light the flame once again!"

The flame is still lit but on a lower burn, so you just never know!

G'day Mal,

You are welcome to fly down to Tassie and work on my old beast if you get the urge to tinker. :)

Good luck in your Packard-retirement; hope the motivation returns!

All the best from down under down under,

John

"You are welcome to fly down to Tassie and work on my old beast"

John,

Possibly looking to take a cruise to Tassie next year but probably unable to fit in working on your '35 Coupe during it! But thanks for the invite.

Wednesday 3rd January, 2018

Fielded a phone call from RossM on Sunday. Ross is a member of our Packard Club and sought advice on someone who could look at a Generator for him at Ingleburn, a southern Sydney suburb. The generator was off a '36 Senior 'parts' car owned by Big Bad Barry, who passed away late last year. Being that I was going to Sydney today, I volunteered my services to the cause. After a number of phone calls between Ross, myself and James, son of Big Bad Barry it turned out the generator was in James' possession at Appin, which is about 1/2 way between Sydney and where I live in the Southern Highlands, so still doable. Accordingly on my way home from appointments in Sydney called in and picked the generator up from James. Turns out the generator was rebuilt, never used, and kept as a 'spare' for BBB's '35, so essentially is 'brand new'. Because Ross had some Sydney relatives flying up to the Gold Coast the next day, I delivered the generator to them to be carried on board as hand luggage. That's if you can call a 13kg generator "hand luggage"?

And a note about the car the generator is destined for, it's Ross's '35 Super Eight Coupe formerly owned by Amelia Earhart and presented to her by PMC! The Coupe is headed for New Zealand shortly to participate in the Napier Art Deco Festival in February. Then in March will also participate in the South Pacific Packards Club Destination Wanaka Rally which culminates in the Warbirds over Wanaka International Airshow. I understand a number of US Packards and other cars are also heading for NZ to actively participate in this Rally.

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If the new owners of the CO 1240 want to dress it up before installing, the body and exhaust scupper should be crinkle black, and the brush band with the intake scupper should be engine green. New tag, should it be wanted, is available thru the CCCA. I believe the CO 1240 is the "red tag" unit, the higher output unit introduced during 1934 to replace the CO 1177. It was introduced mid-run due to the sudden and unexpected popularity of the car radio, 1934 being the first year the car was factory wired for radio installation.

Tell me more about the ex-Amelia Earhart car!

Dave,

"Amelia" as she is known, has had a document prepared by Ross detailing her history. I know it was published in our club magazine a few years ago, and I thought I had an electronic copy too but can't put my cursor on it! I've contacted Ross and he's sending me a copy to publish here.

Ross kindly agreed that the handout he prepared about "Amelia" could be used, see attached PDF's and enjoy.

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'Amelia' update.

Ross called and advised the generator is now installed and works perfectly.

However, on the test run, spokes on one of the wheels broke!

Because Ross had new spokes made for all 6 wheels, all wheels are being viewed as potentially compromised. Ross is chasing replacements wheels as a matter of urgency. Reason being 'Amelia' is due to be shipped to New Zealand later this month for the Napier Art Deco Festival and Destination Wanaka Rally.

Below are some pics of Amelia when she arrived at the workshop back in April 2013. You've heard the term "busier than a one armed paper hanger"? Well Amelia was delivered by a one legged tow truck operator, who didn't seem to be at all busy, just went about his job efficiently.

And a pic of one of Amelia's wheels together with new stainless spokes.

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