John_Mereness

Original idea for the "Junior" Packard's

Not automotive, but it was interesting:

It is currently for sale - it was slated as a new coachwork project as apparently the body must be pretty bad and given the reference to 1996, it was still all the rage to rebody. Unfortunately, the topic keeps coming up of "no single (or very few) restoration shop can cost effectively restore" a rough large 20's/30's CCCA car in its entirety - even the most resourceful and "thrifty" fellow I know farms stuff out as says people cannot afford his "in house" rate to complete a project that needs woodworking, heavy fabrication, engines with serious issues, and ... (just like most shops do not do their own plating) - ie notice the first line about a DIY enthusiast. https://www.olympiancars.com 1926 Duesenberg Model A Torpedo Project $64,900.00Price Here's a special opportunity for the DIY enthusiast! I have available a complete Model A Duesenberg restoration project at an affordable price. Her original Schutte sedan coachwork with stunning ornate interior (pictured here) needs a lotta TLC and that process is certainly an option for the right buyer. Or why not have some fun and build a special you can enjoy on your own terms? With that I can offer the illustrated concept from the noted automotive designer Strother MacMinn. It was "Macs" last commission from 1996 when I retained his services for another project (Mac died in January 1998). This design is precisely calibrated for the Model A chassis allowing for four passengers, extended hood and fully disappearing top. I also have other concept drawings for the lucky buyer including a two-passenger roadster The engine was rebuilt some years ago while the remaining components will require a full restoration. Chassis 1156, engine 1549. Last year, a Model A Duesenberg chassis was donated to the ACD Museum in Auburn, IN for a valuation of over $200,000. In 2017, a rebodied Model A sold for a world record $407,000 at the RM-Sotheby's Monterey auction. Stictly as a parts car, this offering is a sure fire bargain! Model A Duesenberg parts are virtually unobtainable where engines alone may cost $30-40,000... if you could find one! Please call to arrange a viewing!

That sums it up, but not sure it is even that user friendly.

Agree on the Green, I never minded the particular color, but equally glad I am not trying to sell it either. I had the 45K miles all original 41 Super Sedan (in Maroon) that I bought from original owner and it had basically been kept in a cold storage warehouse since 1948, when they bought a "new" car, but they had a heated garage when new and took exceptional care - it was nice, but nowhere near as "crisp" as this Convertible sedan. I suspect a double edged sword - When I see original, I generally think a little less in price, but willing to pay decent as I know I have a better product (aka original cars are great and I would take one over a restored what was "hulk" any day). That said though, original cars usually leave a little to be desired undercarriage cleanliness wise and in the corners of X under the hood (which plenty of people are not too fond of). Most original cars I have had are a careful balance or original to what I have chosen to upgrade. And, yes you want LEATHER in a Convertible Coupe and a Convertible Sedan unless you are crossing the podium at Pebble Beach and the build sheet or factory photos state cloth for your Duesenberg, V-16 Cadillac or .... I had this conversation yesterday - someone wanted an X marque sedan and I set them up with one done by the gu-ru of the marque and their buyer was turned off by the price (well, I suspect Doug has same issue - it costs plenty to restore and a lot of people will not step up to that plate as they can get a X for less = well, you can get an X for less, but it is not going to be the same quality of car).

I believe they were Excelsior brand, but that said they were also on a "modern" new manufacture solid aluminum wheels - RADIALS ARE NOT SUITED FOR LOCK RING STYLE WHEELS AND YOU WILL GET YOURSELF KILLED.

As to your dad - yes, they are like that (get mine going on a passionate subject). As to tops - 100% correct. Sidenote: The Auburn has a 45 year old top on it that I am currently purposely destroying by putting it up and down on whims and leaving it down the bulk f the summer. And in the back of the hall closet there is a large roll of proper mossy green with wexford backing Haartz yardage for it, binding, and hydem, but the problem is that after I spend money for a convertible top I am much more cautious (but with Auburn I will probably just put it down at the upholstery shop and christen it more or less from the get go).

Worth more, but assume it is cavern green or whatever they called the green that is almost black matched to wrong venue.

A good period look with or without the whitewalls

Plenty of this look existed as a new car - a set of wheel disk covers would do looks an improvement.

Looks like someone made top 1/4's unsnap at the rear - the rear window looks folded up into the top like it would be and that is normal, but as to the two 1/4 panels I guess it could have come like that new, but my guess is someone had problems seeing out and did a little of their own handiwork in restoration

Super nice original car - I judged it the year it was shown at Hilton Head Concours. Other than the top, tires, and maintenance it was really an untouched and exceedingly well kept car. Looks like engine compartment could use a good detailing since then. Sidenote: I am not sure why int the pictures they only have the rear top panel only partially folded - it does not stick up in the air like that, though I recall the owner was elderly and perhaps someone now really does not know how to put top down).

You can get an 8 volt battery and pretty much run 6 volt everything without "frying" it (your voltage regulator can be adjusted upward a touch to charge it). Sidenote: Flathead Cadillac's are notorious hard starting cars when hot - I never had too much of a problem, but it really only gave you one shot at restarting (and it required some concentration and being parked in a quiet spot so you could hear what the car was doing) and if you "muffed" it then you got to sit for a while and read a book or ... The cars were probably fine off the showroom floor and for the first year, but as soon as any corrosion got on any grounding point then .... The solution is grounding the battery both to the engine and to the frame (plus there are smaller ground straps on the engine that were often removed during service issues or lost their "ground"). I also ran a V-16 7 Bladed fan verses standard Cadillac, had the fuel line in neoprene under the hump for the rear axle as the fender skirts trapped heat, original wrap on exhaust, and ....)

It is a Marmon V-16 with LeBaron Body (which sounds fancy, but it was the standard body offering for a closed car - Sedan, 7-Passenger Sedan, Limousine, and Club Sedan, as well as a Coupe, plus Convertible Coupe or Convertible Sedan for that matter)

No, someones handiwork as an "improvement" to modernize their car

Seems to be the case from my experience too

I am not saying there is anything wrong with Tan/Brown/Orange (my parents owned a 1931 Cadillac in the combination and at age 7 in 1972, I chose its colors), I am just saying that when time to sell it screams 1970's (along with avocado green, harvest gold, and rust/brown and yellow colored kitchen appliances of the era) and offers come in at not 100% (many come in at 60%, 70% and ... of what they should be and nothing wrong with that if you are accepting of it, but if not accepting of it then do not do it). And even those who love the color combination of Tan/Brown/Orange are savvy enough to use other's dislike to their negotiation advantage.

That is great - I have seen the colors and they will be very nice.