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Hello everyone,

I wanted to inform you all that they are finally trying to liquidate the Peter Graves collection, which is 50+ mostly V8 parts cars, in Ottsville, PA. I spoke with the owner (his grandson) and he gave me this info:

- Approx. 70% of the cars are complete; the rest have already been parted out some.
- Asking price on the complete cars is $600-700, for the somewhat parted out ones it's $400-500.
- Mostly senior cars but also 10+ Clippers.
- Convertible parts cars are available for $4,000.
- There is a container or two of parts as well.
- Titles available on request, for a nominal extra cost.

Due to the high volume and low cost, he will not be advertising these individually. He is instead asking to "bring a trailer" during normal business hours, and you can pick out whichever one you want. See the aerial view below.

He has informed me that these need to start moving within the span of a month or he will need to start crushing some for lack of space. I will clarify with him what contact info he would like posted; he's requesting to not call as there's not much to ask; you either want to bring home a parts car at a fair price, or not.

If anyone is interested, PM me and I'll send you his phone number.

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I once had the pleasure of meeting Peter Graves in person. A number of years ago, he came to my club's annual dinner (Eastern Packard Club) and gave a talk on his history with Packard cars and on his parts operation in Pennsylvania. He had some fascinating stories to tell! He was a big hit with all of our members on that occasion. I was very sorry to hear of his passing. Peter was a real credit to our hobby and helped countless Packard owners and enthusiasts over the years.

His grandson is really in a tough spot trying to dispose of so many cars at once especially as they are probably mostly all parts cars and not restorable units. In honor of Peter and his family, I would like to do something to help even though there isn't anything I could use myself. If there is enough interest from people on this site, I would be willing to drive out to the Ottsville facility, inventory all of the cars and take photos of each one. I could then post them somewhere on this site for everyone to see.

Pgh Ultramatic: Could you please reach out to the grandson and inform him of my offer? I would not ask for or expect any compensation and would just like to do this to help the family and our hobby. I think this would make it considerably easier to properly dispose of the cars if there was some kind of inventory done and a cache of photos available to any interested parties.

Certainly, I'll give him a call.

Not to pile onto your already most generous favor, but photographing all the vin tags and theft numbers would be most helpful for the rosters etc.

If you just go from car to car, the order of the photos will be sufficient for documentation.

All the cool things happen on the East Coast. There are no hoards like that around here. Parts cars for $600 sound great, and I'm sure my wife would welcome several more onto our property.

Seriously though, a '56 parts car wouldn't be a bad thing.

Kevin

I know. But what would be nice if, someone is in failing health.
Reality needs to addressed

Kids don't want it. Start selling it off or , find a person with acres

Where it could be moved at time of death.

Then dealth with.

I see it with entertainers, homes, left abandoned.

Then they are bulldozed..

For apartments....

Quote:

I personally helped sort two hordes in So. Calif over the last 10+ years. They are out there. But you never know where one will pop-up.

Some folks don't want to ever admit that the end of the road is coming. Which is a shame for them, their families and the cars/parts. Because at some point once the cream has been skimmed off the top, and there is nothing left to cherry pick, the rest ends up at the scrapper.

If anyone is interested, PM me and I'll send you his phone number.

If you want one in the back it will take a couple of days to move. So hopefully we can get some photos of everything for logistical purposes. I'm waiting to hear back.

A 12-page article on Pete and his "Graveyard" was published in the 2nd Quarter 2024 issue (#195) of The Packard Cormorant Magazine. In 2022, my wife and I conducted an interview with Pete and his wife Jan about his life in the Packard hobby, which started in 1954 when he was a high school student. (Full disclosure -- I worked for Pete at the yard for 6 months during 1988-89.)

Back issues of the magazine are available at $8 each in the USA, checks payable to “The Packard Club.” Order from: Drusilla Carter, 13 Falknor Drive, Manchester CT 06040.