Bill Kennedy

Jack: Hope the book helps. Also remember when looking at a car you might consider purchasing that the condition of the wood is extremely important--these cars have bodies with metal over wood. One thing I do is I carry a telescoping magnetic parts pick up (a tool available almost anywhere) with the magnet covered with a cloth so it will not scratch paint. I use this to search out bondo on a body. Cheap and effective. Parts for a T series, especially a TD or TF, are not a problem. You can even get new fendors if you need them. There are also people who make the wood parts for them. These can be fun cars. One of the brothers on Car Talk (National Public Radio) uses one as a daily driver (although he would be the first to admit that he is a bit strange)!!! Enjoy! Bill

There is a very good book entitled Original MG T Series by Anders Ditlev Clausager. To quote the BritBook website: "The restorer and owners guide to 100% originality. Contains 150 full-color photos. A minutely researched text provides all original specs and equipment. The definitive book on the T series cars. Hdbd., 9" x 12", 96 pgs., 190 ill." It is out of print and a bit expensive, but an excellent book on that documents what an original MG T series should look like. Check out BritBooks.com--they have other, less expensive ones as well. Also check sites like Amazon and e-Bay for books that may suit your needs. The BritBook site is run by the son of Dick Knudson who founded the New England MG T Register and has written many books about the T series as well. They often have difficult to find items--but so does e-Bay! I own a 1952 MG TD which is fully restored to original condition (some would say overrestored) including all tools, etc. It is a lovely car, but quite frankly the MGA is more fun to drive than a TD, and an MGB more fun to drive than a MGA. (I own all of those models). I would not think twice about jumping in an MGB and driving 100 miles. I would not even consider it in a TD (although many people do). However, the MGB does not have that classic British Sportcar look the TD has. Enjoy!

I'm in

I won't be driving my Packard anywhere--I'm in the middle or rebuilding the suspension and brake system. Its amazing how rubber deteriorates in as little as 50 years. (Although the rubber parts have held up better than I have!!!)

I use e-bay a lot but have never bought a "big ticket" item like a car on it. I have gone to look at several cars advertised on e-bay and am convienced that if you do not go to look at the car physically you are making a huge mistake. Those little digital pictures make a car look a lot better than it does in reality. I probabaly have over 250 purchases on e-bay and have never been ripped off. Most expensive item was a $350 NOS 1924 radiator--which was as described. By the way, I have bought cars at live auctions and you have to be careful there too--even big firms like RM are at the mercy of the people who put the car up for sale and describe them. Because you don't really have an opportunity to drive them or have a mechanic put it on a lift to inspect them, you are taking a chance there as well. At least in a physical auction you are sure that it at least exists!

That's what rental cars are for. If a group of us went in and some of us had to fly into Detroit (like me) we could meet somewhere and take a rental car down there.

David: Sorry for long time before response--I don't go into this forum very often and have been traveling on business a lot recently. The car is stored in Christiansburg, VA. The remarkable thing about that is in the Christiansbrug / Blackburg area which is in the middle of nowhere and has a population of 55,000 between the two towns (not counting 26,000 college students at Virginia Tech) there are 3 Maxwells. Since there are only estimated to be about 700 left in existance that's a huge number. About a year and a half ago there was a "gathering" of Maxwells to celebrate the 100th anniversity in New Castle, IN. About 100 cars turned up and that's where I met the two other people from my town. I had heard there was one other, but was very surprised there were two. Also, there is a Maxwell in the auto museum in Monaco--belonged to Price Renier (part of his car collection). My car works (or did until I took the fuel line out to redo the fuel system). It was restored probably 30 years ago and looks like an #3 "older restoration". I plan to redo it one of these days, but am tied up redoing a 1955 Packard 400 at the moment. I do spend a lot of time looking for spare parts--been to Hershey for that reason the last two years. Have had some success including picking up an NOS radiator (which I find unbelieveable--that such a thing still exists--but it does). Anyway--appreciate the info on the oil leak--will put the tube inonbe of these days!!!

If it were May 18/19 I could go. Memorial day weekend has too many family commitments

What time did you go there and how "scary" was it. I am planning to go this summer but have heard a lot of stories about the building being used by people I would rather not meet.

I am doing a "rolling restoration" of a 1955 Packard 400. The color of the car is white / black / white. I assume the engine bay was painted black regardless of the body color. My question is was it a flat black or a semi-gloss. My engine bay is too weathered to really tell for sure. Does anyone have a recommendation on a paint that is close to what the factory used? Thanks in advance.

I have no experience with Kanter but have bought a lot of parts from Max Merritt and have had both outstanding service and good quality parts.

This is not really a Packard first but I thought it interesting. I was on long plane flight yesterday and one of the DVD's I packed to watch on the plane was "Enzo Ferrari 1898-1988" by Duke Video. It is basically a biography which included some archive interviews (in Italian with English treanslation). In one of the interviews Ferrari was asked what inspired him early--he said he saw a Indianapolis race car (1919 I think--may have the year wrong) and that had twelve cyclinders. He said from that moment on he wanted to build 12 cyclinder race cars. He saqid the car was a Packard! So I guess you can claim that Packard was Ferrari's first inspiration!

I have eight "collector" cars and they do not get used much. I charge the batteries about once per month with an external charger. If I get three years out a battery in this type of serice I consider myself lucky. I have just given up and replace them every three years whether they test good or bad. I have also given up on the expensive "vintage" look batteries--too much money. I have yet to try the Optima batteries but plan on doing that on one car this year. I tried trickle charges, but I think they reduced battery life, so I quite uising them.

I have removed the rear stabilizer bar assembly from my 1955 400 with the intention of rebuilding it (I'm rebuilding the entire suspension / steering / brake systems). I have managed to locate all the rubbger bushings, but I cannot figure out how to replace the bushings in the center aseembly between the two arms. The thing is riveted together, and if I grind off the rivets I cannot replace them with bolts due to lack of clearance. I get most of my parts from Max Merritt and they do not have the rivets, nor do they know someone who can do the rework. Does anyone know of a source for the rivets or someone who can do the rebuild on this assembly?

I have a 1924 Maxwell and it doeas the same thing. I've been told it is normal.

yes, mossmotors.com

Can't help you with the light green color--mine are a dark beige and were purchased from Moss Motors. Their part number is 222-236. They are a British car parts supplier (I also have MGs)

What I did was purchased sets that attach to an eye bolt--that makes it easy to take them out if you want to. The eye bolt was fasten to the floor with a large and thick fender washer.

Randy: That site on e-bay (e-bay stores) DOES have the bolts--PACKARD BODY BOLTS 1952 TO 1956 - 437831 His description: "This is 20 NOS Packard body bolts. The Packard part number is 437831. 5/16 inch diameter They fit Many Places on 1952 to 1956 Packards like the radiator shroud ( the part the hood latch bolts to) 1955 & 1956 Grill, 1954 Radiator side panels. This is a genuine Packard NOS part that has never been on a car and is in excellent condition and ready to install on your car. Many parts come in the original Packard boxes. Please feel free to ask any questions at ATR_1@msn.com. Thank you Mike" Price $19.95 for 20. I have bought lots of stuff from this guy--no problems.

Does anyone know if the jacks in 1955 were painted gloss black, satin black or flat black?

I have a 1924 Maxwell Touring car that I need to replace the rear axle seals on. Anyone know of a seal that fits? What about the differential seal?

I'll attend

Randy: Do you still live in McKeesport? I grew up in Glassport and vaguely remember J.P. Mooney in McKeesport--what did they sell after Packards? Is J.P. Mooney still in business? I do not remember the Niklas Brothers in Clairton--do you know when they closed. It has been years since I have been to McKeesport--last time I was there I walked trough the ruins of the Tube Mill which had Echostar in the front office.

This car is number 4270. They made 3775 Patricians in 1956. I assume the first was number 1000, so this car is very close to the end of the run. Interesting (but looks EXPENSIVE to reserect!!!).

Have you ever been to the swap meet in Frederick, MD? Is it well attended by vendors?