tbirdman

Well just good back from the Packard Tour of Oregon. My 32 did well through tyhe Cascade Passes though if the Timberline Lodge had been 100 ft higher, I might not had made it to the lodge. As usual my car was misidentified with the first time ever I was asked if it was a Studz. At the Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood a guy exclaimed look at all these Packards but then pointed to my 32 and said there's a Duesenberg!

I believe there is nothing to read from the embossed number in the cowl. It is from what I have read an antitheft ID. The serial number on the engine should fit between certain serial number range for engines for that year. These numbers are available in Packard publications.

According to the PI judging book, the pointer is a "natural" color...whatever that means.

Since the Continental top was also close to the T-Birds, I would try someone like this T-Bird parts supplier Birds Nest

Funny thing is for whatever reason, I've been asked by a lot of people this week (besides the Clenet lady) whether my 32 Packard is a Rolls. So I'm driving the 1912 Cadillac around the neighborhood today trying to get use to the car and a lady stops and asked me if the Cad was a Packard

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Packard32</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Rick, hope you get well quick... just keep good Packard thoughts in your mind...remember..laughter is the best medicine...B </div></div> How coincidental I watched the Robin Williams movie last night about laughter and health, "Patch Adams".

Tom, Looiking at my gauge just now, I remembered that I originally had a face that was the color of your gauge. I was sent a different face by PI. I questioned it, and they said that Packard changed the face color in the middle of the 32 model year. So my oil level face is now black with gold lettering. The original face that I have, the gauge restorer removed the paint, but I remember it being an off white. Unfortunately I do not have a good picture of before.

Tom, I believe I bought the last face from PI last year. However I think they might had got their face from the company below, the mew "puffer and williams" Vivian Lavine. Call her at 574-773-7561. The PI club has all the gaskets and glass for it. When I get a chance I'll send a picture of my oil level gauge. People always mistake my oil level gauge for a gas gauge. I always remark (tougue in cheek) that the next year in 33, Packard started to make cars cheaper and replaced the oil level gauge with a dipstick.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rusty_OToole</div><div class="ubbcode-body">People like to dream too. What the hell, maybe he will win the lottery and buy your car. I know people who buy lottery tickets every week. They still think they are going to win the big prize even though they have been buying tickets for 40 years and it hasn't happened yet. It seems to be the only thing that keeps them alive. </div></div> Well you never know, he just may have money and is itching to buy the car.

My 32 Packard was in the driveway waiting for a friend to come over as he was going to help me on my 1912 Cad. A lady walks up and ask if my car was a Clenet. She said her friend made them and they were beautiful and my car looked like a Clenet. I tried to tell her my was a 'real" car. The my firned comes over with his Model T. We could get any work done as everyone kept stopping in to talk. Then later this evening I join my friend at an informal cruise in. I guy comes up and ask me how much would I sell it for. I said $500K. He then asked if I was there every Friday night and proceeds to look over the car very carefully. He then after looking over the car says "you never know" to me. After he leaves my friend turns to me and ask if I would sell it for $500K. I told him yes, and I would then buy two more like it One question. Why does everyone feel the need that they have to tell you that they know someone who had a car similiar to yours.

Speedster, Speedy recovery wishes.

That is what I intend my 12 Cadilac to be, more of a show and go. Just need to resist improving it. Are you using sanding blocks at all? I found even using sanding blocks, the tips of my finger would get sore. I'm sure it's from my improper technique.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Packin31</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Ken, I did realize you were traveling this far to show your Packard . Fathers Day Car Show </div></div> Well maybe I should have. Today I went to a "judged" car show and "took" a 2nd place in the convertible class to a driver condition 60s MG. They only knew my car number and kept calling 93. I refused to accept the trophy out of respect for the Packard name. My friend who has a very nice 37 Club Sedan didn't even finish in the top two in the 30s class. The number 2 car in that class was your typical primer rat rod. To make it worse supposely the judging was done by the mustang car club who you would think as a single marque club, would know how to judge. I know you can't these local car shows too serious, but come on, how about some respect. The only thing I can think of is they ran out of judges and recruited some people who knew nothing about cars to be judges. Anyway, looks like that show was a very nice car show and much nice then the car show I attended. The car show I attended had a lowr rider 60s Cadllac with naked women on the side I guess it made you anxious to finish your car.

Yep there is a lot of crap out there, but there also a lot of people out there who refuse to pay for quality. I'm mean as far as quality, a very sound or nice car vs. a bondo queen. When I was selling my 64-Tbird recently on Ebay, a guy called me as he wanted to know what my car was like. He had seen cars advertize as trailer queens that were disasters. He was getting deparate at finding a good car. However after him not bid on the car, I assume he was another one of these looky lou's who want a bargain but won't pay for a good car.

Powersurge, I understand your quandry here. Not a replica but yet not a car built in the 60s. Hopefully you can find a suitable solution. I still think that you should be judged against other cars that have withstood the perils of time. I am an AACA member, but I have not competed in any type of AACA shows. However the most important thing is that you show up and have fun at shows. The most fun with these cars I think is driving them and talking to people about them. I know it would tough for you to be DNJ as you have put effort into your car. However that is what I intend to do with my car this year. Not for the same reason, but because most shows are too long. Even while staying for a short period of time at some shows last year, I managed to win some awards which did not sit well with some. So this year if I plan to leave early, I will be DNJ.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Power Surge</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks guys! I went today and had a great time. This was my first AACA related event and I was very impressed with the club and the cars. I was the 60-69 Ford, Linc, Merc (except T-bird) class and took first place. </div></div> I question how can you compete with a 12 year old car against cars that are 39-48 years old. Seems to me I would be very displeased if I was in your class, and you entered with you vehicle class with is in automobile timeline, basically a brand new off the show room floor car. I do realize your car is an unique case and is definitely is not a replica. However I think IMHO the car should be judged against cars when it was built which is 12 years ago and not what it looks like, is titled as or has parts from. If your car was a time warp car and was found in a very well preserve state with very low mileage, I would have no issue with your car competing in that class. But think of it, your car as a complete vehicle from being manufactured has only 12 years of preservation and no or little restoration. Please reconsider when attending your next show, and place your car in a class if possible with cars of your "real" vintage or enter it as display only. I have nothing against your car and would love to have it and would welcome it in any show. I also wouldn't want to discourage you from showing this unique car. But you're competing on a very uneven playing field by being able to skip the preservation or restoration efforts of your fellow competitors in that class. And I do realize that some of these car owners bought the car as restored/preserved and have minimal efforts in the car, but still the car has had a restoration or preservation from that class' time era. This reminds me a little of the local cruise ins where a car owner will remove a door panel to enter their car in the "under construction" class or enters a 2007 car in the "daily driver" class. Both of these car owner examples have not officially broke the "rules" but have missed the true meaning of what these two classes are to represent in these local shows which is 1. a car that is truely not completed and is currently under restoration and 2) an older vintage car that is used in daily commutes. My $.02.

Well the 1912 Cadillac was delivered today by Fed-EX Passport. My neighbor remarked how interesting to see FED-EXdeliver such a large package and Saturday delivery to boot. Interesting in in Oct 1911 it was delivered to a dealer in Portland, OR so you can sort of say it's come back to its roots. I didn't do much but start it (which is an interesting sequence of steps) and pull it into my garage. Tomorrow I will begin to look at it much closer with a friend who has experience with Brass Cars. It is a very well documented car and can only hope that it is much like my Packard was-the previous owner spent a lot of money on mechanical items.

Good catch. I had not noticed the huge whitewalls. You think he would had least painted them black. Ken

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bkazmer</div><div class="ubbcode-body">West, I would have pegged you for the plain bail </div></div> No, I pictured West as the "naked lady" Lalique guy

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: West Peterson</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Its not all that out of line. Don't you have a bird on top of your grille shell? </div></div> Yes I do, though I've been tempted to put a donut chaser on it. The car was actually sold to the dealer with the sliding boy, but was removed by the dealer with some other nice peripherals before he sold the car to me. I didn't realize what the dealer had removed until I spoke with the previous owner last year.

Steve, I don't know about a new handle. Unfortunately I own the tbirdman.com domain. I should probably had picked a more generic name like carnuts.com or intheshop.com The nice thing about owning a domain is if you switch Internet providers your email doesn't. Tbirdman is significant though because 10 year ago that Thunderbird got me into this hobby. Well went to a 200 car cruise in. A beautiful 40's Packard convertible showed up. I tried to speak with them but everytime I went by the car, they were not around the car.

Steve, I ended up on the wrong side of 35K For values on Packard junior, there is an article in Hemmings this month which pretty much says what I said on values.

Steve, That $35K would be for a outstanding car. I don't know if you could get $35K for one. I would think in the condition you state $20K or less. And as you know, you need to be careful about what you see for sale, though you really can't tell the condition of the car until you see it in person so I take ad prices with a grain of salt. I got a call about my Bird when it was for sale. The guy was looking for one and got tired of seeing drivers advertized as trailer queens. Though he wasn't willing to pay the $ to get a nice car like my Bird. The guy who got my Bird got a well sorted out car, and got a top notch car. Unfortunately the market on T-Birds of that era isn't quite as strong as open pre-war Packards I would hold out for a pre-war senior if you are looking for a closed car. The prices of the closed juniors are just too close to the seniors though the 35-36 juniors will ride better. However I would go for a open junior in a second. Just my opinion.

Not to mention any specific show, but I know of one where a guy shows up every year in his driver. He happen to take a 2nd place last year because lack of competition in the class. The show just seems to accpet any car almost just to fill up the spaces.

Depending on the interior, I would think around $15-25K. Not debating on the merits of Junior vs Senior cars, but a very decent 37 senior which is a very desirable year driver went for probably around $40K. I would think a top 110 would top out around $35 for a closed model.