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"You are welcome to fly down to Tassie and work on my old beast"

John,

Possibly looking to take a cruise to Tassie next year but probably unable to fit in working on your '35 Coupe during it! But thanks for the invite.

Wednesday 3rd January, 2018

Fielded a phone call from RossM on Sunday. Ross is a member of our Packard Club and sought advice on someone who could look at a Generator for him at Ingleburn, a southern Sydney suburb. The generator was off a '36 Senior 'parts' car owned by Big Bad Barry, who passed away late last year. Being that I was going to Sydney today, I volunteered my services to the cause. After a number of phone calls between Ross, myself and James, son of Big Bad Barry it turned out the generator was in James' possession at Appin, which is about 1/2 way between Sydney and where I live in the Southern Highlands, so still doable. Accordingly on my way home from appointments in Sydney called in and picked the generator up from James. Turns out the generator was rebuilt, never used, and kept as a 'spare' for BBB's '35, so essentially is 'brand new'. Because Ross had some Sydney relatives flying up to the Gold Coast the next day, I delivered the generator to them to be carried on board as hand luggage. That's if you can call a 13kg generator "hand luggage"?

And a note about the car the generator is destined for, it's Ross's '35 Super Eight Coupe formerly owned by Amelia Earhart and presented to her by PMC! The Coupe is headed for New Zealand shortly to participate in the Napier Art Deco Festival in February. Then in March will also participate in the South Pacific Packards Club Destination Wanaka Rally which culminates in the Warbirds over Wanaka International Airshow. I understand a number of US Packards and other cars are also heading for NZ to actively participate in this Rally.

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If the new owners of the CO 1240 want to dress it up before installing, the body and exhaust scupper should be crinkle black, and the brush band with the intake scupper should be engine green. New tag, should it be wanted, is available thru the CCCA. I believe the CO 1240 is the "red tag" unit, the higher output unit introduced during 1934 to replace the CO 1177. It was introduced mid-run due to the sudden and unexpected popularity of the car radio, 1934 being the first year the car was factory wired for radio installation.

Tell me more about the ex-Amelia Earhart car!

Dave,

"Amelia" as she is known, has had a document prepared by Ross detailing her history. I know it was published in our club magazine a few years ago, and I thought I had an electronic copy too but can't put my cursor on it! I've contacted Ross and he's sending me a copy to publish here.

Ross kindly agreed that the handout he prepared about "Amelia" could be used, see attached PDF's and enjoy.

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'Amelia' update.

Ross called and advised the generator is now installed and works perfectly.

However, on the test run, spokes on one of the wheels broke!

Because Ross had new spokes made for all 6 wheels, all wheels are being viewed as potentially compromised. Ross is chasing replacements wheels as a matter of urgency. Reason being 'Amelia' is due to be shipped to New Zealand later this month for the Napier Art Deco Festival and Destination Wanaka Rally.

Below are some pics of Amelia when she arrived at the workshop back in April 2013. You've heard the term "busier than a one armed paper hanger"? Well Amelia was delivered by a one legged tow truck operator, who didn't seem to be at all busy, just went about his job efficiently.

And a pic of one of Amelia's wheels together with new stainless spokes.

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Tuesday 23rd January, 2018

Received some photos from Wade. He's currently working on the mechanicals from a '39 120 Convertible Coupe. Among other things, he's going through the engine.

His messages were: "Does this bring back memories? Nothing like a good wind chime." and later, "Finished articles."

And, yes, they certainly brought back memories!

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Wednesday, 8th February 2018

When I sold the '41 Coupe last year I thought that was it, I wouldn't be a Packard owner again. Well that wasn't to be. An email copy of The Colonial, magazine of the Canberra Antique and Classic Motor Club, entered my inbox last week and lo and behold it contained a For Sale Ad for a Packard.

The ad said "1949 Packard Eight, Very original example, recommissioned over the past two years after being in storage for more than a decade. Very good original interior, paint showing some minor patina in areas but very presentable overall. Drives beautifully! Work completed: Fully rebuilt brakes including master and slave cylinders, linings, drums machined, all new wheel bearings and seals; aComplete new exhaust system with stainless muffler; New suspension bushes front and rear; New rear Koni shocks; Rebuilt front suspension including upper out joints, pitman arm etc; Fully rebuilt carburettor; Rebuilt distributor, all new ignition components; New water pump, new radiator core, thermostat, connecting pipes and hoses etc; Thermo fan fitted for backup; Head gasket replaced; New alternator; New 'correct' battery; 5 new tyres. Looking to find a good home, reluctant sale. Number plates can be negotiated in the sale for ACT buyers"

One of main concerns that led me to sell the Coupe was my lack of mechanical skills. Well I think that now can be put to rest as I've found a mechanic, about a 10 minute walk away, who works almost exclusively on "older cars".

Then it was on to arranging an inspection, as it was about 200kms(120miles) away. But near enough to Peter Packard that I was able to call upon him to meet me and the seller at the arranged time and date. All went well, on inspection and on a drive with Peter at the wheel. I thought, old hand that he is, that Peter would be more attuned to this type of Packard. Passed the test, offer made, counter offer proposed and accepted, cash deposit made and I'm now on the way to being a Packard owner.......AGAIN!

Still have to arrange transport, have an inspection made for registration purposes and shepherd the paperwork through our registration system and then I'll be on the road.

Things to be attended to: 1) having the mechanical fuel pump rebuilt, its currently running on an electric pump only, 2) Right headlight bezel needs replacement because of a very rusty bottom section, 3) Check and fill front shocks with oil - little bouncy at present.

Besides things mentioned in the ad, other things the purists will not be pleased with: 1) Has been converted to 12V, not by the guy I bought it off, 2) Running a 350cfm Holley 2 barrel carb, although original carb and air cleaner come with the car, 3) Running radial tyres, 4) Turn key start, I think from a Holden, as part of the 12V conversion and 5) Probably lots of minor things as well. Anyway, this for me is a driver, so I'm quite happy to leave things as they are.

It is fitted with a radio a Ferris, which is Australian built. Not working at present and likely to stay that way as it is 6V and there aren't any decent AM stations where I live anyway!

And YES! I will be including it in the Packard Owner's Registry once ownership has passed.

Will have questions for sure.

O_D, Numbers could be "interesting", I'll post more about that soon.

Photos below are some the seller sent me and some taken today.

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Congratulations Mal!, looks to be a fine Packard and wishing you many happy miles in it.

Your theft-proof number fits neatly into a block of RHD cars, all 2392s.

Very nice Mal and congratulations. When you get it home and start doing any of the little things needed or when it is up on a lift I would be most interested if you could take some good photos of the linkages for clutch, brake, steering etc.

I sometimes wonder how much a RHD car differs in those respects from a LHD and how it was done. Did any of the major castings and forgings that were normally built for a linkage on the left side get mirrored or were the linkages extended over to the left and how. You don't see many specific right hand parts listed in the manual and with conversions being done in the field or by an agent, did they make their own castings etc or just modify the LHD item.