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Sunday 18th February, 2018

Morning was spent familiarising myself with the Packard, First was sorting out the keys, supposedly 2 sets, but more like one and three quarters. All different styles so matched tooth profiles and tried fitting to ignition, door, boot(trunk) and glovebox. I know, I know, probably should only have 2 keys to cover everything but who knows what has happened during the almost 70 year life of this Packard? And speaking of the glovebox, the box itself is very air-conditioned with large holes in each corner. What I did find in it was a 5c coin, Is that a goodluck sign? Checked the fluids, radiator needed 2 litres of water, oil is at low mark, couldn't undo master cylinder cap because I've hurt my right hand/wrist which restricts the amount of force I can use and finally the battery which looks low in a number of cells.

Inspected the body, which has thinning paint in many areas, with some surface rust appearing, but nevertheless very serviceable. Also has little rust spots adjacent to trim strips but nothing of concern. Weather stripping around the doors is perishing, as is rubber seal for the boot(trunk). Interior is mostly fair to good. Upholstery on seats is good, and seats are comfortable, although the first long trip will either prove or disprove than notion. The drivers door card, remember this is RHD, is wearing in one spot, while the front passenger door has the front part of the lower trim strip separating from the card/door. And for my Packard door handle benefactor, from what I can see, there is no difference between the interior front and rear door handles, either window winders or the door handles themselves. But will be looking, when at Hershey later this year, for an exterior left rear door handle and surround. This one is just not in as good condition as the other three, which are all very presentable.

Then brought Kath, my wife, into play to check on the working of all the lights and indicators. And they do. Horn works, while wipers, which have been converted to electric, also work and the auxiliary fans work. Kath is also very concerned about the cars appearance and is encouraging me to polish it as soon as possible, if not sooner! Won't happen until the hand/wrist is in some sort of better order. She's also suggesting that rechroming of some of the brightwork is in order. I quickly dissuaded her of that idea, she really didn't know how much rechroming costs! Besides this really is a driver and has no pretensions whatsover of joining the show circuit.

Started up without a worry and backed it out for some photos in the sunshine. Speaking of starting it up, its been converted to key start at some time in its past. Now uses a Holden ignition switch and key, one of the reasons it has so many keys! Besides 350 Holleys don't come equipped to operate the floor starter switch system! The bonnet(hood) opening system is great, except when one is inconvenienced by a sore hand/wrist. I think tomorrow, when I take it for its registration check, the mechanic John, will be impressed by this feature. Or if he isn't, I'm pretty sure Will his son will be!

Tomorrow, all going well, will be on the road again.

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to Gerd(Guscha) my Avatar has now been updated to the '50 Packard. Thank you again Gerd!

Not familiar with these models,
Were the back up lights an extra add on?
This car had two, I don't remember seeing one with two back up lights before.

Looks like a great car to me. Hope it brings lots of enjoyment. Overdrive?

John

Mal, she looks like a great old girl. Polish her up and let her sparkle! Ernie

Hi Mal

That's very light wear for a 1950 car! Packard added a non-metallic Ash Green, Paint Scheme Q, Code No. 2603 in January 1950 according to Mr. Neal's Packard 1948 To 1950. By the way, do you have a copy of that great book? If not, we need to do something about that! I'd suggest you get a set to wheel trim rings for it sometime, they'd help set it off with blackwalls. Good luck and enjoy it.

Steve

Let the ride decide,

You're right, not usual to have two back up lights, usually only one on drivers side. However they are both 'Packard' accessory lights with the crest on top.

John,

No overdrive, just three on the tree!

Ernie,

Will do as soon as the hand and wrist are in better shape.

Steve,

Believe car was built late in 1949 as it was sold that year to its first owner. I'll be checking with the prior owner about the colour(color) as well as some other matters in the near future. But my wonky memory seems to recall he called it "sea green".

Yes, I have a copy of Robert Neals Packard 1948 To 1950 Book, will now have to study it with greater intensity! Rather than wheel trims I was going to look for a better set of hub caps.

Mal, glad to see you in a Packard - I feel better that your situation is back to normal - driving a Packard.

Thanks namesake!

Putting together my Hershey trip and more, and afterwards, should be in the vicinity of Pittsburgh on Tuesday 16th October.

Monday 19th February, 2018

Drove the Packard to John, the mechanic, for its Registration Inspection this morning. Left it with him, and he called when it was going up on the hoist so I could return to take some underside photos, some of which may answer Howard's queries re linkages.(I just pointed the camera up and snapped away so trust they were pointed in the right direction). John is a real car guy, having been mechanicing for 43 years after being apprenticed at 15yo. Besides the bread and butter cars he services and repairs he's currently working on a Jaguar XK120, Aston Martin DB4 and a 1939 Fiat, Rolls Royce Corniche and others at his home workshop.

Pleased to say the Packard passed its inspection after which I took myself and the requisite forms to Service NSW a one-stop-shop for most transactions the general public has to undertake with our state government. Only blip in the process was being told they didn't have a '50 Eight Touring Sedan in their database. Imagine that, almost 70 years old and forgotten. What they could offer me as descriptors were "845", "Clipper", "Patrician" and a couple more. Instead of taking the easy way out and accepting say "Clipper" I choose to wait until their database was updated to accept one specific to my Packard. Not often I take the stance towards "correctness". Only took an hour because that function is decentralised to a country township location of Services NSW. I did suggest that they log onto PackardInfo and look up the Model Info Pages, even walk them through doing that, but my offer was declined.

However at the end of it all the Packard is now registered under the NSW Log Book Scheme for Historic Vehicles(ie vehicles 30 years or older). This scheme allows 60 days use per year in addition to advertised club runs and events and movements for repairs or refueling. In comparison to the previous scheme, which was very restrictive, this gives plenty of opportunity for owners to drive their "old cars". And it's relatively cheap in comparison to regular registration.

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