Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

I live near McDonalds store #1, which is now a museum of sorts. In the summer they park four cars in front, all colorful 55/56s from the big three. Across the street is an actual McDonalds.

Yesterday was a lovely day and I had the car out because I felt like it. So I run over to McD for breakfast. As I'm sitting in car a guy comes up and chats about cars very pleasantly and eventually departs. Happens all the time.

As I was backing out, I got stopped (politely) by what I thought was another car buff. Not really. It was security, checking to see that their cars were not being stolen. He was pleasant and very apologetic; knew instantly it wasn't one of theirs--which were all sitting under covers not 50 feet away.

Ya gotta love paranoia! What was your favorite encounter with it?

The real insult is that they think I'm stupid enough, after stealing the car, to go through the drive through and stop for a meal.

That must be the first "Corporate McDonalds" there, as the first actual McDonalds (pre-Ray Kroc buy out) was in San Bernardino, Calif.

I have folks come up and say My uncle had a Caddy just like this! Substitute Chrysler and you've met the other guy. Some folks actually know what it is and understand the TL system. That's when I'm pleasantly surprised and willing to talk "Packard".

I usually get the guys who want to talk about the "air shocks" on the Packards.

...or the ones that want to know "who made Packard, Ford or Chevy?"

"That must be the first "Corporate McDonalds" there, as the first actual McDonalds (pre-Ray Kroc buy out) was in San Bernardino, Calif."

Quite correct. Before Ray passed away, he rewrote history to fit his vision/version. It is a popular sport among the very successful...

Yes officer, here are my license and registration papers, was I doing something wrong? The reply was "What kind of car is this?" and I told him...Packard...., second question, "Who made Packard?".... Yep, just out of curiousity.....

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That's the series of questions I get. If it looks like they are genuinely interested, I'll try and explain the whole "50's thing" as best as I understand it. If not, I just answer "Packard" to the second question.

So far I haven't had to explain anything to a cop - my answers to them might be more like Scottie's.

They stopped making cars when they merged with Hewlett and became one of the first computer manufacturers (joke)

I remember a spirited discussion with an elderly gentleman who tried to explain me for half an hour that my Packard was made by Chrysler. No way to convince him otherwise, not even with the owner's manual...