Packard Forum Index » General

Topic: New member, setting off on a crazy adventure... PICS!!!

Bottom

Previous Topic

Next Topic Register To Post

« 1 ... 4 5 6 (7) 8 9 »

danh

Re: New member, setting off on a crazy adventure... PICS!!!

#61

Just can't stay away

Freakin awesome, I love it!

Posted on: 2017/12/19 6:50

dan

Leeedy

Re: New member, setting off on a crazy adventure... PICS!!!

#62

Home away from home

Back in the early 1970s, I had my own crazy adventure moving a Packard from one state to another. Only I didn't even consider driving the car (which had been sitting un-used since about 1963). I was a Viet Nam veteran and I had no need whatsoever for thrill-seeking. I'd already had plenty of that. No. I decided to tow-bar the car. And I think I can safely say that I probably hold the world record for tow-barring a Packard.

I bought my 1956 Caribbean 5699-111X in Florida in the early 1970s and tow-barred this Caribbean convertible all the way from Florida to California... coast to coast. I was in college and on a budget. But it worked out perfectly... and no fears of failed brakes, electricals or other mechanical issues. I got it home... then got it running.

Of course this Caribbean was stolen from my barn years later along with a lot of parts. Last seen being described as "always having been in sunny California"... and missing the factory Lehigh A/C compressor and blower and with the engine compartment oddly painted all black. Alllllways in "sunny California"... ? A Caribbean that was delivered new in New England.?.. lived most of its life in Florida?... but in the world of old car skullduggery, reality is created by a guy with a microphone and a color catalogue... backed up by more guys in tuxedos. Put it in a nice glossy catalogue, make up a "history" and "provenance" ... and you can say anything in an auction... can't ya?

Attach file:

(264.77 KB)

Posted on: 2017/12/25 21:09

HH56

Re: New member, setting off on a crazy adventure... PICS!!!

#63

Forum Ambassador

Must confess to being a bit curious how the adventure is going. Believe the plan was to be home by Christmas but with an unknown car and some wicked weather along at least part of the route, maybe quite a nail biting adventure.

Posted on: 2017/12/26 10:33

Howard

Rocky46

Re: New member, setting off on a crazy adventure... PICS!!!

#64

Home away from home

I join you!

Tom

Posted on: 2017/12/26 10:55

1956 Packard Clipper Deluxe Touring Sedan

NeedsRestoration

Re: New member, setting off on a crazy adventure... PICS!!!

#65

Not too shy to talk

Nothing wrong with those post-war "small eight" Packards. While not a fan of UltraMatic, I drove my '51 convertible back and forth across the continent several times.

Of course the "trick" is to properly maintain a car. Hope we hear from these guys what happened - hopefully they followed the recommendations & advice you guys gave them. If you did, they had a non-eventual trip.

As an illustration of what even the post-war eight cyl. Packards were capable of - my mom ruined our '51 convert. by continuing to drive it after it developed a water leak. I found a complete engine & trans. out of a '54 ambulance (four barrel & 327 cu in) mickey-moused the governor on the UltraMatic so I had an instant convertor "lock up" at any speed over 23 mph. Drove it from the George Washington Bridge on the Hudson River, to the Barham Off-ramp of the Hollywood Freeway, in 2 and a half days, and I SELPT EACH NIGHT (doing around 80 mph most of the time) - and that was before the Interstate !) This was in August - so nice and warm crossing the desert - but again, properly maintained Packards are not capable of overheating . No - no need for an electric fuel pump - in those days the Ried Vapor Pressure of consumer-grade gasoline was much less than today.

Posted on: 2017/12/26 15:43