Jump to content

Dave Mitchell

Members
  • Posts

    1,207
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by Dave Mitchell

  1. Sorry to hear you say this, but I understand. When I was on the national board, I often brought up the expense of meets, tours and annual meetings and I was always told that people expect "a certain level" of quality at the events and facilities, and I understand that some do, but I don't think it is the majority that want really expensive venues. I have been to nice events that didn't cost a fortune and I've been to banquets that didn't cost hundreds of dollars to go to that were perfectly fine and often just as good or better than CCCA events. When I was Awards Chair I saw the proposals come in for the costs of the events and I said that the regions would make just as much money and have a more successful event - and draw more people if the prices weren't so high - and it would serve a much larger segment of the club. I still think that is true, but it was a hard sell to the club because that isn't the way they had always done it. Now if a Grand Classic or Annual Meeting has 40 cars they think it is huge - that is sad. The old guard is leaving, either do to age or disinterest, and I wonder where the new members will come from.

  2. Rob Hilarides in California did a heroic restoration on an 845 Dietrich sedan and it won the closed class at Pebble in 2012. It is very, very nice and done in dark green. The other real one that I know still exists is in the Nethercutt collection.

  3. Thanks Bubba, glad to know it is around. Is it a V8 or a 12? Interesting that this, like most convertibles has a chromed bead on the windshield, and my car never had it. The bead is part of the casting and like other parts Cad chromed the entire piece and painted what they didn't want to show as chromed - such as the hood sides and grill shell.

  4. There is no way the side irons will fit in the compartment. I keep mine in the trunk. I'm not sure they will even fit under the seat. I've seen the Arden car - we both had our town cars at the Cad club nationals a couple years ago. I know that there are 4 V16s left, only two in the US, mine and the 36, which I have seen. There is a 37 V12 that I have seen, but that is all that I have seen in person other than yours and Bobs. Years ago I saw a photo of a 34 8 or 12 advertised as Mae West's car, and heard rumors that the Jean Harlow car still exists, but I have no idea where either car is.

  5. Too bad I didn't know you before Jan gave his archives to DB, he even held the photos for the last two books back for some time later, but they are with DB now. I agree, things have really changed in publishing, but too late for Jan. I do hope that DB Historic will publish the books. I would think that they know what great potential they have in the manuscripts, but I am not sure. I think that for DB there is so much interest in the 300SLs and newer cars, which DB can relate to marketing new cars, that they don't think a lot about the cars from the 30s. Jan showed me the cars in action photos and I can assure you that they are terrific. I've been collecting car books for years and I have come to enjoy the period photos even more than those of the cars today. I'm sure I will never own a Supercharged MB, but Jan's books are my favorites of the hundreds of automotive books that I have. Dave

  6. Hi Pat, That is a nice car that you have. I met Jack a couple of times and he seems like a very, very nice man. I'm guessing, since I didn't look up my "Book of Fleetwood" for 1934, that the 5725 was available on all 3 chassis in 34/35, which would account for the higher number of bodies. I'll dig it out and see. Also there is a page showing the driver how to fold back the top - I'll copy it for you. Looking forward to seeing more photos of yours.

    Don't short me Johan, the 60 series is 154 1/8 inch wheelbase, not a mere 149!

    Take care,

    Dave

  7. I do, but I haven't been to Sweden for several years, and I miss spending time with Jan. He is one of the nicest men I have met ever. You have to understand that Jan is extremely careful and precise. He is just brilliant and a phenomenal historian. His knowledge is boundless and always accurate, but he will not speculate. I could describe a car and he could tell me the numbers and dates for it. MB has asked him not to give serial numbers in his books and until he gave his archives to MB, his were better than theirs because he had compiled theirs from varied sources hither and yon from inside their many storage areas and also dealers, photos, etc. They didn't know where to look or didn't have time. He saved a lot before they just deteriorated. MB knows that with the info that he had, people would be building cars to match numbers. There are already cars out there with the same numbers.

    As far as publishing - Jan had poor luck with publishers over the years. He had 2 more books ready to publish and couldn't find a publisher. We can only hope that MB will publish them. I know that the market is small, but I've seen most of the photos he was going to use and they would be fantastic. His books are my favorites and I don't own a Supercharged MB.

    DM

  8. I'm not a Fleetwood expert, but I own 5725 Body # 15, which is a 34, of which 4 V16s were built. I think that 9 town cars were put on Sixteen chassis from 34 - 37, which are pretty much the same body as your V-12. I know that there were town cars built on all 3 chassis, but I was a bit surprised that they would have built 15 by the time mine was built in the spring of 34, and it seems equally surprising that by 35 there were almost twice as many. Perhaps they were more popular than I think, or perhaps they started with the number 10. There certainly aren't many left - only 4 V16s from 34 - 37. Is yours the ex Jack Frank car? My email is packard12s@hotmail.com - we can trade photos. Dave Mitchell

×
×
  • Create New...