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Well Folks, I finally found myself here thanks to Wes.
First a little background to why a 1953 Packard and why this project with my Grandson.
"Bud" as he is known to me has always liked older things. I even got him hooked on the oldies rock and real country, 50's-70's.
Bud just turned 16. I knew he had been eyeing my motorcycles and the several basket cases I have around but I just watched him. Later this summer he came to me and said....Papa, if we could find an older car or pickup would you show me how to restore it.
Man this made my day....I said of course if that is what you think you really want. Of course he said yes.
I told him we would start looking.
About 3 weeks later I saw 2 Packard cars advertised to be auctions at a farm sale. A 1951 Packard 200, running, but with a poor rebuild job. And a 1953 Packard Clipper.
The Clipper was not running. The insides were almost destroyed and the body had a little rust but not bad.
We stood at the auction all morning until the cars were to be auctioned and yep, they were the last two to be auctioned.
We stood in a downfall of rain for about an hour before they started on the cars and we were soaked. The '51 sold for $3100.00. When the Clipper came up only two of us bid on it......we got it for $200.00. Considering the shape of it I don't think it was bad.
Bud was happy. He liked the looks of the car and I had shown him pics of cars I would like to look for. So he had an idea.
We got it home and then realized it had an out of start title. This after we had already started taking it apart. I loaded it back up on the trailer, took it to have it ID/OD at the State Inspections and got our new title.
When this project is finished I will give the car to him. The only thing I asked was that if any of his brothers or others wanted to do the same and I was no longer around or capable that he show them what he learned. I do think he will follow through with this deal.
Now....having said all this, this is what we purchased that rainy Ozark day .
A 1953 Packard Clipper Sportster It has a 3 speed, manual transmission, a 288 straight 8 engine.
The colour code is TC and trim 46. This would be Packard Ivory (top) and Polaris Blue (bottom) with a Maroon interior and seats and side panels a Maroon and looks white of ivory colour.
On our progress....we bought it 8 August 2016 and to date have removed all the glass, doors interior, all chrome and the engine and transmission.
We have the engine apart and labeling and placing the parts for rebuild.
I will teach Bud how to rebuild everything I can that is rebuildable. This will take longer, but I think he will get more from it as I will and I can do it a little less money. I will also make as much as I can myself.
I hope my next post will be pictures of this old heap :)

G'day Gary,

Glad you, Bud and the Clipper Sportser have made it to the Projects Blog Forum. I'll be following along and.......there's no such thing as too many pictures! A good source of info for you should be BigKev's Blog on his '54 Clipper, not the same animal but close.

Link to Big Kev's Blog.

Good choice of car Gary. They are easy to work on, very pleasing to drive, and will easily keep up with traffic. Does your car have overdrive? If not, it is easy and worthwhile to add whilst the car is all apart. Will be following the project with interest. I have parted out MANY of the 51-54 and have quite an inventory that will fit.

See as easy as pie, a piece of cake. Next, lets work on posting pictures.
Wes

Gary,

Fun story about "Bud" and the Clipper to-be-restored. It's great to hear about teaching the next generation the restoration procedures and skills. As my friend Kevin (KevinAZ) has said, "We are all just custodians of these cars."

My current paid helper is a friend in his late 40s (I'm 71) who is being partly compensated by my teaching him and his learning the same sort of things as you are with your son "Bud". As in most things, there are a few right ways and plenty of wrong ways to do it.

Craig

Hi Folks, I hope I get these few pics right.
The first is Bud standing by the Packard at my house.

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Another pic of the '53 Packard

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'53 Packard

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'53 Packard

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'53 Packard

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