Owen_Dyneto

NAPA lists quite a few universal keyed ignition-type switches in their catalog.

The screen writer was no doubt just exercising artistic license, doubt he cared one way or the other for what was correct, just what made good dialogue.

I suppose battery tenders have their place, though I don't really see any advantage over traditional trickle chargers, and they have the decided disadvantage of not being able to charge at higher rates (6-8 amps) when needed. All the trickle chargers I've had over the years automatically taper their charge rate depending on the battery condition. I live in northern NJ and usually lay up both cars over the winter. I normally put the trickle charger on my batteries for one night per month over the winter, and typically get 8-9 years of life from the 6-volt batteries, 4 to 4-1/2 from the 12 volts.

Actually, was it not the Thompson who later became part of Thompson-Ramo Wooldridge (aka TRW) and now part of Northrup Grumman?

I don't know about that 9th series Murphy roadster, but Steve Babinsky has a very original 2nd series Eight (236) disappearing top roadster by Murphy. You'd think for all the times I've been there I'd have a couple of photos, but don't. I hope to be down to Steve's this week and be sure to take some.

Thus far we've focused just on the prewar Packard customs and generally the postwar customs tend to be just mildly reworked factory bodies by the likes of Henney & Derham, but here's a pair that were far more ambitious. Two 47 Super Clippers, both by Derham, one for the King of Lebanon and one for the Sheik of Kuwait. One of the two survives though I forget at the moment just which one. These photos from the Derham archives which are packed with interesting details about these vehicles.

Dave, here's some additional photos of the 34 1102 Graber convertible sedan that you expressed an interest in. I still have no recollection of where I got the photos from or any other details about the car, but it sure is interesting. In post #142, is the 34 Twelve formal the former Jeanette MacDonald car?

Found your comment about Ride Control not doing much in contrast to my own experience; that system in my 34 Eight produces rather dramatic differences in the 3 positions - perhaps your shocks need service. Apologies for going off-topic.

You can purchase the service letters from the various Packard national vendors if you wish, but you can browse and download from PackardInfo for no charge. Also if your a member of PAC and have back issues of "The Cormorant" or can borrow them, the Winter 1971 issue gave a condensation of all the column-shift service letters along with commentary and actual experience.

A couple more, taken at the Redding CT (the old Ridgefield CT show) show in 2010. The Draggone Rollston (?) which I believe was the centerpiece of the Packard NYC auto show display that year, and a 1934 Twelve victoria by Dietrich. PHotos by this writer.

Another. I've just got it identified as a 901, no other info. Very teutonic, maybe a Graber, or perhaps Glaser? Anyone got any info on this one? Source of photo unknown.

Though "Body by Packard", here's an old photo taken at an early CCCA Grand Classic in New Jersey of 3 734 speedsters. George Jepson's phaeton flanked by (I believe) Kanter's and Vaccaro's roadsters. Photographer unknown at this point in time.

Packard like many other makers had their share of issues when converting from cane shift and they issued over the next 8 years or so at least a half-dozen or more service letters on servicing the column shift problems. That's where I'd start thinking about the problem. If you don't have your own set of Packard's service letters for this era, you'll find them at PackardInfo.com - General Site News - New Part Cross Reference Database Added - Packard Articles.

One of the respected rebuilders of Detroit Lubricator 51s is Jon Hardgrove (The Carb Shop), 204 E 15th St, Eldon MO, 65026. Tel 573-392-7378. It can be quite expensive, approximating the cost of the new Packard Model 51s just introduced via reproduction.

Looks like the same car, same venue, same date as in post #12 of this thread. Same car alongside? Venue was the PAC National in Ashville, NC.

The monobloc Twelve body has always been attributed to Dietrich. If you have access to it, The Packard Cormorant #110 (Spring, 2003) is almost completely devoted to it, and one article gives comparative photos and measurements of it's body with the 745 Dietrich convertible victoria body (style 1711). Also one of the articles contains a lovely detailed underhood photo and many excerpts from Col. Vincent's diary discussing the building and testing of the car. Copyright issues prohibit me from posting any of that material, but back issues are available from PAC. These articles constitute what I believe is the most complete and definitive story of this vehicle.

Were any similar boat-tailed Packard cars built in the day ? Do any original boat-tailed Packards still esist today ? There is a picture of one in post #85 of this thread, and better known are those of the 734 speedster series; one of the 5 body styles offered was a boat tail roadster and of the small number produced, several still exist today. I'm sure West will comment, his Dad has one of them, the ex-George Jepson 734 car.

A. J., the attached explanation from the 7th Series owner's manual.

A.J., perhaps you should consider membership in PAC, their publications contain a wealth of information. After quite a few years of collecting the body dash or thief-proof numbers and corresponding vehicle numbers (about 2000 data sets thus far), I've published two articles on the subject. If you wish, PM me with your snail mail and I'll send copies. In brief, the numbering system started in 1929 and ended in 1956. The records Packard retained to correlate this # to an actual vehicle are apparently long-gone, but the data was also provided to dealers in the form of a "vehicle unit record" card, and some very small collections of them still reside in private literature collections and I've had access to some of them. There is an example in the first of the 2 articles. My hope, when I started, was that if enough data were collected we'd gain some insight into factory body manufacturing and production sequencing. To a small extent, I think that has been achieved though I'm still collecting data. The data is also rampant with interesting little anomolies. The number was "thief-proof" because it was not easily altered, though of course it could be done. Packard said the number was to be used when the other numbers were missing, defaced, etc.

Here's a better picture of the ex-Ed Hermann LeBaron on a 120 chassis. Also a picture of friend Sal Saiya's 36 Twelve Dietrich convertible victoria. This car is now nearing completion of a full restoration after having sat is Sal's basement for about 20 years while he completed other projects. Its primarily an owner restoration excepting for paint and upholstery and is going to be an exceptional example. Its VN is 927-2XX but the Dietrich plate is 827-2XXX which corresponds to a 1935 thief-proof number, a situation not uncommonly found with the Twelves and commented on previously. That's Sal in the front and me standing in the back seat area. Photographer of the LeBaron unknown to me at this point in time.

Dave Mitchell, do you have a copy of "The Coachbuilt Packard" by Pfau? A must-have book if prewar custom Packards are your cup of tea. Lots of great pictures, but I hesitate to scan and post as it's a copyrighted publication.

Too bad he won't show the 37 dual cowl, that is an interesting car. Didn't the White House have a regular phaeton like that which later burned? Judge Cassini has some great cars. Dave Kane too. Do you have any photos from his collection? The last factory bodied phaeton was 1936, Stalin's buddy Beria had one and I have a photo of it somewhere, I've only been thru about 30% of my pictures. I seem to recall that the White House phaeton that burned was in a museum or collection in Cape May, NJ? Long time ago. A great advantage of being in the Metro Region CCCA is the frequent viewing of Marano, Kane, Cassini and Zeccardi cars. I do have some photos of them, but it will take a bit of digging. That's about it for the moment. Glad you enjoyed, I hope others do as well. Dave

Just a few odds and ends. A better photo of the 645 Murphy town car, taken at the PAC National in Danvers Mass. That's noted Packard historian Jim Pearsall at the wheel (lucky dog!). The red victoria with the 32 FWD prototype next to it is from the Bahre collection, though I forget the details on this one. I though it might be Bohman & Schwartz, can't quite make out the script on the side panel near the grille. But one of you guys will know for sure. A better (?) picture of what I believe to the the Twin Six by Kimball for Gen. Pershing, taken at the Warren Centennial. And a 34 Twelve Dietrich convertible sedan under restoration at Automotive Restorations in NJ, and again after it's prize-winning trip to Pebble. Though my leaning is to well--preserved original cars, this is one incredibly fine restoration!!

Dave, re the updated 1106, Judge Cassini still owns it to the best of my knowledge. The set of pictures front and rear were taken at the Metro Region CCCA Grand Classic just last year and he was the exhibitor at that time, I believe. The 37 Twelve dual cowl Dietrich was owned at the time (2008) but a man from Texas, didn't get his name, but he was emphatic that it was the first and would be the last time the car would ever be shown!

Interior photo of the updated 1106.