edinmass

For us non Packard guys…….the 29-32 cars can be very confusing! I’m guessing there were a bunch of chassis differences from wheel size, suspension, ext. Are the 29-31 steering boxes and brakes all identical? That is the area that seems to be most ignored when I test drive one from this vintage. And having driven most of the big platforms of this era…….none are perfect, and all have their pluses and minuses. Do standard and super eight use identical steering boxes, suspension, and brakes?

Cool car……and rare. I agree the spot light needs to go.

It’s too bad they don’t put some more info in the description……3150 pounds rated load, and 95 PSI max pressure. Basically a miniature tractor trailer tire……also total weight of tire is helpful……mot tires are 19 pounds….I bet these are almost . I will use these when my open trailer needs new rubber.

Boys……wasn’t trying to dump on the Packards……just making observations. Packard probably made twice as many cars in the same class as all others combined. As a kid growing up in the hobby……..80 percent of what I saw for big cars were 29-31 Packards………at least it seemed that way. And for the record……my father was a Packard man……through and through. I don’t have issues with seven passenger touring cars……..as most know I’m not a convertible sedan guy……….just my taste. Packard always made good cars…….and good looking cars……but as a “non Packard” guy I’m just making observations. 1932-1934 cars still are sought after……if they don’t need work, and barn finds are now almost impossible to move. Having recently worked on a 29 and 31 Packard I was surprised how few parts and “experts” were available………seem almost like the old days when nothing was available. If you ask me what the overall best driving classic there is all things considered……..it’s got to be a 1934 Packard V-12. Since my taste is fairly off the wall………I have never owned one…..and probably won’t. I have driven 34 V-12 hundreds of trouble free miles…….they are a pure joy. They just are not for me. PS - I recently drove a 1931 Packard that belonged to Tom L, and I can say it was the BEST early packard I have ever driven….by a mile. A well sorted car that had no bad habits and went exceptionally well. Recently a few Packards have popped up for sale that over the last 40 years I was able to drive, and service. None of them were properly sorted…..and most were active tour and driver cars. One last note……AJ was beating me over the head about my comments…….but notice only later Packards grace his family’s garage. I would love to have the Peterson speedster……but to be fair…….those are cars in a league of their own. Maybe West will give me a ride in it some day….hint!

Nice car……I sure miss my old 1914 Caddy.

Series 81………

I can say from experience……..NOPE! 🤪

Back in the early 80’s I was driving my fathers new car without permission……..having had a few to many Jose Quervo’s a two car garage jumped right out in front of the Chrysler……..and damaged the entire passenger side. Wasn’t my fault, as I tooted the horn at the garage before I made contact. The car was so new the paint code wasn’t released yet…..so I had to throw down for a custom match, and get the car fixed before the old man came home from Florida. Lesson learned…..never drive dad’s new car and during tequila! Drive your winter beater!

Soup’s on! 😎

My favorite Mexican restaurant………..

Today almost everyone tries to over rev an engine when shifting. You only need first gear to get going on a hill. Small displacement cars need first to get rolling………find second as soon as possible……..drive the torque of the car…….don’t wind it out. My 17 White in Florida never uses first since it’s so flat. 98 percent of the time you should be driving your pre war car in direct or third……….also, downshifting them is a bad idea for normal driving……time yourself at stop lights as to arrive when green if at all possible…….these cars were made when stopping was literally not that common at any intersection. Every time I get into a new car I always try and adapt to it…….quickly……..the problem isn’t the car……it’s the operator.

The problem with 1929-1932 Packards is they aren’t as good a driver as a 1928 or the 1932 and later cars. Add in there a a BUNCH of them……..and it sort of removes a “special” or not often seen car. Most of the 29-31’s I have driven are NOT sorted correctly, and they tend to have a bunch of bad habits…….all related to the owners and lack of knowledge of what a good 29-31 car should drive like. I can think of only four or five properly sorted and dialed in Packards from this era…… there are of course many more…….but 95 percent of them are worn out shiny poorly performing vehicles. I’m guessing I have driven more of a hundred of them over the years. Growing up a Pierce guy…….my favorite Packard is a 1932 904 series chassis. Any body style for 1932 is fine with me………I think Packards aesthetic was tops in 1932, and ungapatchka from 1933 onwards.

45 front, 40 rear. Check every week.

Jdome………no one wants a 1929-1931 Packard today(read that as serious hard core Packard collectors)…….those were desirable in the 70’s and 80’s. They steer, shift, and stop like a mid 20’s dump truck.(Yes, I have driven every years, series, and model from 1925 to 1942.) Only the early special speedster models will bring demand and money today. Look at the recent Packard museum auction from Florida……….bunch of “great stuff” and all of it went under the numbers. 1932-1934 are hot and still find buyers easily. Its not an opinion…….it’s the market. Look at the numbers. The above 7 passenger car is nice. I like it. Year, model, color, and condition all add up to a car that won’t hit six figures on most days. Since I am not a Packard guy I have no dog in this fight. After the additional photos, my opinion went even lower when looking at the door fit. It’s a cool car that will sell on price………. Unfortunately no one is breaking down doors for 7 passenger open cars today……..unless you live in Norway and join their club.

No tools= sorted car! 👍👍👍

Farman are scarce……I have seen two in person, and had a ride in one. Felt like a three Liter Bentley…..I think they made multiple sizes and chassis……..the one I rode in was a 1924 or there abouts……..not as big as the car in the photo….but very well done.

Never seen this car………fifty miles from my home up north………we spend weekends in this very town for thirty years……..and it just pops up. From a Facebook posting…….

Plus……sorting your own car means roadside adjustments and issues are a familiar territory……….nothing better than knowing your car so there is no mystery……….drive on!

Somehow, I am going to miss all the shops on Michigan Avenue that I would frequent back in the 80’s.

Wayne will have a frame available.

Gee……..George driving a car admitting he’s a mental case………… to be fair, all of his close friends such as myself and other Pierce Arrow Society members have known this for years. It’s not the voices in his head that he answers to that bother me. It’s when he jumps on the brakes……trying to stop for a hallucination! 🫣 Somehow when I see him early next month for lunch, I have an inkling he’s gonna remind me about this post and make me buy lunch! I think we’ll go to the In-N-Out Burger. 😎

What car is the most fun……easy……..whatever someone pays me to fix and test drive. A well sorted car of any era is a blast to drive.

Repairing a broken UU-2 or UUR-2 is fairly simple. Find the right guy, and throw handfuls of hundred dollar bills at him……….works every time. You can spend anywhere from 2 up to 5 grand depending on applications. Unfortunately, there are literally no other choices.

I was there tonight……..he has what you need. UU-2’s are notoriously terrible for falling apart. You can run a UUR-2 which is a much better unit. John will explain the differences to you. Be prepared, they are not inexpensive. Post a picture of what you have tonight if possible. I’ll be working with him all day tomorrow. Best, Ed. PS- almost any used UU-2 you find for sale is junk……..John guarantees everything he sells. Be aware since that carburetor it’s about 300 different vehicles, it’s not a one size fits all. The carburetor has to be calibrated to its application.