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Hi Barrie

Replying straight away while you have an internet connection - sometimes you complain that it goes down for long periods ?

Yes seem to remember your car rides a little lower than mine which is on 16" wheels. Getting four nice caps is still proving difficult but have collected four excellent trim rings from Ebay USA.

1st resto. on mine was done way back in 1968 when the upholstery used was a pale blue leatherette, this is still good and I'm keeping it as it's cleaned up so well. My headliner on the other hand is not good having moved in the rear quarter corners and has also picked up rust staining around the windshield and the rear window.

Surprised your headlining has lasted so long and is still good, maybe it had some secret anti-S.African bug repellant applied ?

A good source of bits and pieces has cropped up as a guy in Stoke-on-Trent GB is breaking a 22nd Series and quite a few good and rare small parts have now been purchased from him -being over here rather than the states helps a lot with shipping. He's supposed to be re-bodying the chassis as a Sports car (yup I know what you're thinking !!)

Keep in touch Best regards Michael

I've only seen a few export cars from this series before, but never like this! I have to ask, what are those little circle shaped things under the headlamps and taillamps? Is that the original color? Is it Maume Maize by any chance? Very impressive car!

Hi J.R.

That round things was added during the sixties here in SA. It is reflectors, red in the back and white in front. The law made it compulsory cause our roads then, even in towns were not lighted. You will see the same on the Rambler pics here. It seems that garages added it for motorists as aftermarket fittings. It looks bad so during resto it is always removed. The colour is not original. The original colour was black. I changed it now to the dark green which is not original as well. I dont like these cars in a lighter colour, but that is personal choice.

During this weekend I tried to fix the electrics and specifically the indicators. Everything went well and I can say that all lights except mains are working. I think the relay is shot.

Took the car for a drive as well, but I think the valves are sticking as it was smoking badly and running on 6 or 7 cylinders. This improved the more times I went around the block. Hope I dont have serious issues. Will need to check brakes again! Also managed to get the car inside my only garage. Fit very tightly.

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Looking very good Barrie, a real credit to you.

Nice to see it all back together. The chrome looks spectacular!

It has been a while but I finally scraped together some cash to redo my seats. I found someone in Pretoria that will do it for about R12000.00. taking the stuff there on Saturday. I think that is about $1700.00? They do retro fitting of leather on Mercedes cars and provide a 3 year guarantee on their work. Also they import the leather from Italy and will finish the job in 2 weeks. I have decided on a beige leather. Know this is not original, but will be better than the ugly vinyl I have at present. The carpeting I will handle myself. The ceiling I will leave original, although it is dirty and brittle it adds to the cars character. I still need to redo the wood grain effect....that will be a first for me. It is high time that I get the inside finished as it detracts from the enjoyment of driving the car.

I have been driving intensively since fitting a new exhaust system. I had to have it made up locally and though it is a bit loud on exceleration it idles very quietly. And it is stainlessteel so should last hopefully! Here is some recent photos. The non standard rear view morror is for safety sake. Also check out the Packardinfo sticker - doing some advertising in South Africa for Big Kev! Also some pic sof the insides and my other oldie being impounded by police - but that is another story.....

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New exhaust systems often exhibit a certain raspiness but quiet down with use. I have been told that it takes a while for carbon to build up on the inside of the pipes and muffler but do not put much stock in this theory myself.

I do know from working in a muffler shop that this takes place. Stainless steel seems to be more prone to this than mild steel but does quiet down eventually.

The bumper sticker looks great Barrie. Thanks for supporting!

Well, we had a nice trip to Pretoria with the Packard seats on the back of our truck. It is approx 70 km's from my house so a good friend of mine offered his truck to take me.

I met Cobus at his workshop and was very pleased with his work on a Chrylser Valiant. He will probably be finished in the next 2 weeks so we can go and pick it up. I hope I will not be disappointed!

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I received my leather upholstery and would like to share some pictures. I am very satisfied with the results and the pricing wasnt bad either. (Leather from Italy!!!) Like to get your comments. I have now also removed the whole dashboard and is awaiting a trial run from a company doing wood graining here locally. Will only install seats after I refitted the new dash.

Also attach some pics from the Pretoria cars in the Park. This is the biggest car show in South Africa. Me and my dear friend Hennie (the guy in the cowboy hat!) went. There was only ONE Packard though! Hopefully next year we will organise a Packard convoy to this meeting.....

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