jcrow

Wanted to buy, 36 Packard v-12 fuel pump. Prefer restored but will take rebuild-able. 925-963-5835 call or text or jcrow22006@aol.com Thank you Johnny

Yes.

Anyone care to value the 1929 and 1930 Rolls coming up in the RM and Gooding auctions at Pebble. I am somewhat in the market. I have numerous brass and classic American cars and one un-restored Silver Ghost roadster (Springfield). I love to tour my cars. How well do these cars run? Any typical issues to watch for? Six cylinder seems a little behind the times for this period. Thank you for any information. Johnny

Some of the 645 (1929) and 745 (1930) and 845 (1931) roadsters had body switches with the smaller series roadster body placed on the longer chassis. Very very hard to detect and these larger series cars in roadster form bring very high prices. Very similar to the placing of v-8 Cad bodies on the 30/31 v-16 chassis. Johnny

No all 29's had the cowl lights. In 30 they were moved to the fenders. Earl C Anthony had Packard permission to dress up 1929's in 30 and 31 by eliminating the cowl lights, placing new ones on the front fenders and updating the headlights and stone guard.

Mark, sorry to hear that your time in the CCCA was less than perfect. Mine has been the opposite. To set up inexpensive short tours and gatherings should be pretty easy at the regional club level. If you served in those capacities in the region you might have missed some opportunities to set some of those up yourself. Where I really disagree with you is as to CARavans. They have been phenomenal. Of course they are expensive. So is my annual vacation to Hawaii. In fact vacations anywhere are usually costly, assuming that you want to stay in nice places. It does cost to ship cars to the destinations, but the Club works to have CARvans in different geographical areas (less travel for you). I have had members often offer their car to me to save the transport costs, and I have made reverse offers to others. Not all of us are retired, so when we take our time off to go on a tour we really like to visit interesting areas and stay in reasonably nice places. What I know for sure is that it would have cost me a small fortune to have a staff come in for me and spend hundreds of hours finding great roads, great hotels and great things for me to see (often unavailable to the general public). I get that for free from the many local club volunteers and national board folks who do it for me. If you have NOT been on a CARavan and you are confusing it with a general vacation to that area, you have no idea what you are missing. As they say, you come for the cars and stay for the people......... As just a regular club member, who lives pretty close to you and one who owns a Studebaker President, I would invite you to rejoin. Johnny

AHa probably unintentionally offended some Mercer owners. Mercers, particularly real raceabouts are very hard to find. Those who have one have either owned it for a long time or paid a small fortune for it. To suggest that there is a lot of "hype" could be misunderstood. One needs to be careful when comparing the features from one photo to another as a very large number of the cars are made up or modified to some degree. Again, a 25 cent phone call to Fred (who owns more than a dusty yellow Mercer) might provide some answers. Small or young manufacturers usually bought components from other suppliers. It was impossible for them to make very limited numbers of specialized parts without drastically increasing the price of their finished product. Even today's huge car companies obtain parts from outside vendors. The Mercer Magic book does mention that the 1910 car had Brown-Lipe transmissions, Spicer driveshafts, Standard Roller Bearing axles, frames by Parrish and wheels by Schwarz. Johnny Crowell

I would call Fred Hoch of Schaffer and Long. Doubt that anyone knows more about early Mercers. He owns the original stock, multiple cars and is great to talk to. 856-784-4044 Johnny

Use Alum i brite (synthetic / make sure because many knock offs try to look alike but are acids) available thru Amazon. Will not hurt paint, BUT will put holes in your jeans. Brush on several times then wipe clean and follow with Wenol polish, also available on eBay or Amazon. Will take care of just about any tarnish....

I have several racing trophys, including a number of Mercer ones. I just looked and I see that I also have a trophy from the Empire City track from July 25, 1903. The winner was a 40 hp Am Darracq. I will attach a photo.

Wanted: Pilot Ray lights for 27/28 Packard. Pilot Ray made these in a drum style for Packard. Don Sommer also made a reproduction. Either would work. Johnny 925-963-5835

Wanted a nice set of Pilot Rays in the drum configuration for a 28 Packard. I believe that Don Sommer made reproductions of these lights, which would be acceptable. Thanks, Johnny

1916 Locomobile. Johnny

Here is my two cents. 30/31 v-16s do not drive nearly as well as do 32 on. They have a truck feel and poor carbs. Most overhead 16's were built in 30/31. There is a tremendous value difference between closed and open bodies. If your client selects a closed car make sure that it does not need much work. Restoration costs for a closed car can quickly exceed its value. Many open cars are body changes so become aware of build sheets that are readily available. I am aware of several open cars that might be available, both restored and un-restored. Feel free to email me. jcrow22006@aol.com

Thank you....... Johnny

Does anyone have the information to read the paint and interior codes for K models? Johnny

32's are great cars but at the end of the day it is a convertible coupe which relates to a roadster as a convertible sedan does to a phaeton. The 32 roadster has cut down doors and a sleek windshield since it does not need to deal with the side windows. Its top also drops way down into the body when in the lowered position. In 32 the convertible coupe was on the short wheelbase and used the standard Fisher body unchanged from those on the v-8. In fact it is the same body as the red v-8 that started this thread. Maybe the market is that strong on a very nice older restoration....... but that would shock me. Johnny

Thanks for the reply. I believe the kids were selling off stock. I will chase down the lead. Johnny

The chrome hood vents were an available option in 1932. The rear spare poses a problem if you wish to tour as there is no place for a trunk rack and a trunk, plus the trunk behind the spare is small and difficult to get in to. Johnny

Want to protect my riders when touring. Looking for collapsible rear windshield appropriate for a 1929 645 phaeton. Would also consider a complete dual cowl and windshield as the sport phaeton had. Reward offered. Johnny 925-963-5835

What color and paint type did you pick for the block? Thanks

I agree that the 32 v-16 convertible coupe headed to RM Ariz should price out about $325k to $400k, all in. The RM blog with the description, however suggests a value of $750k to $850k. Seems way over market for a short wheelbase (as were conv cpes) and the same standard Fisher body used by the 8s and 12s. 32's are great cars and they drive much better than the 30/31s with their Johnson carbs and more truck like suspension. However, many people love the big headlights, flat radiators, and stone guards on the earlier cars.

I don't think that CCCA needs to add more marginal vehicles. It will add very few new members as many of these cars are owned by existing members. It will further dilute the club and the values for which it once stood. There are already plenty of clubs for mediocre cars. Trying to be all things for all people leaves you being nothing special for anyone. Reference the prior right on comments about the CLC. Sure Caravans cost money. But they don't cost any more than nice vacations. Who wants to ship their car across the country and back, take a week off from work, and spend the time in the cheapest motels around? The Caravans are the absolute best deal around. The places we have gained entry to and the wonderful friends we have made along the way make this club a must join. If you don't go on the Caravans you are missing out.

Any help or leads appreciated. Johnny 925-963-5835

Anyone willing to give me directions for tightening up loose steering box on 31 LaSalle? Thank you Johnny