Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

Quote:

One thing I've admired about collectors in the U.K. is that they mainly use blackwall tires. In my opinion, the 745 phaeton looks better with black as well.

That's an interesting view and I'm sure you are very much in the minority in the US.

Whitewalls would normally be treated with ridicule over here even, or perhaps especially, the ones with raised white letters.

However, I think cars like the 745 are able to carry them well.

It would be interesting to see what others think. Certainly theres a cost-saving when it comes to replacing the tyres.

I wonder if there are any photos of such cars with black tyres?

Blackwalls

EDIT: Photo credit for the pix of the black 745 roadster to James Pearsall.

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Quote:
You may be right. But I'm doing my best to make it known that white tires on a sporting car is a bit like putting ballet shoes on a football player.

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Now there's a very familiar car that I had the privilege of driving a few times. Still looks great!

"Still looks great!" is an understatement, I am dribbling all over the key board.

West can tell the story far better than I. Owned by one of the very early (2nd or 3rd?) Presidents (George Jepson) of the CCCA. Bought from the back row of a used car lot on the NJ end of the George Washington Bridge in the early 50s for $200 or $300 or so if I remember correctly. That was in an era when there were NO trailer queens - this car has visited (how many, West?) most states in the U.S. Mr. Jepson lived near-by, we both belonged to the same region of the VMCCA, and I often drove it in July 4th parades while he drove his other speedster, a 734 phaeton. It was a thrill each time.

Dave
I hate to hijack this thread, so I'll put it in a nutshell...

I've never really been told much of the history of how George (fourth CCCA president) bought the car, so what you've said is news to me and very interesting to hear. I think the car had almost 200,000 miles on it by the time George bought it, even having spent time in Africa at some point. The car was awarded CCCA's 5th Senior badge around 1953, and has been driven at least another 100,000 miles since (Yes, more than 300,000 miles on it).

Upon seeing the car at the CCCA Annual Meeting in Buck Hill Falls in 1957, my dad somehow became first on the list if the car was ever going to be sold. That call came in 1974, and he was given the choice between the 734 phaeton and the 734 boattail. A 1939 Delahaye 135MS and a Bugatti Type 57 Stelvio cabriolet were let go to make room for the boattail.

Dad has driven the car some 60,000 miles since he's owned it. In the summer of 1998, still with the 1953 restoration, he drove the car 10,000 miles in 33 days, and put tire to pavement in every state except Alaska and Hawaii. Afterwards it was then taken to a restoration shop and refinished (since it is such a well-known car, we decided to keep the car a similar color as what George painted it, but without any metallic), then displayed in the boattail class at Pebble Beach, Meadow Brook, Greenwich, etc., and has since been put back on the road. It's hard to believe that he's owned it for 37 years. It is hands down the funnest car I've ever driven.

I should add that it is one of just six or seven completely authentic 734 boattail speedsters (original chassis, engine and body), and even has its original dual-throat carburetor (with Heinmuller doing a major rebuild on it in the 1980s).

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West wrote that he had the ones he bought rebuilt for about $400. Was that for two or four shocks? Apparently, there are two types of these shocks, one that disassembles quite easily and one tht is welded together. I got a quote of about $900 to rebuild four shocks from Apple Hydraulics (for the welded up type) for by 640.

Thanks,

Jim Wayman

The price was for all four shocks, and you're right, our price was around $800. We got a cut on the price because we sent them in along with another forum member's, so they got 8 at one time

I was not happy at all with Apple when I had the ones done on my 1940. I sent them back and instead used Five Points Classic Auto Shocks, a family-owned shop that's been refurbishing all types of early lever-action shocks for well over 25 years. Father/son shop: Jerry & Mathew White