Steve_Mack_CT

Nice looking Packard - welcome to the forum. I have to say that I have had simillar experiences (as a prior Packard owner you will encounter some for sure, as well as some real gentlemen like Bill Hirsch, to name one.) BUT overall, more people who want to help out. We met some great people in the past couple mos. looking for Model T parts and knowledge, as each new car is a new round of contacts and vendors. I think patience plays a big part here - and once you "break the ice" with that first purchase, and they know you are interested in buying in addition to talking, I think you will see an attitude change. I even had a couple folks (including a couple forum guys!) talk me out of items they knew would not work on my car at a swap last weekend. They valued straight shooter advice over a quick sale - and I will remember that! Thanks Frank and John, see you next year guys!! BTW, and no offense taken but I am a New Englander - we have good guys and other kinds here, just like anywhere else. Good luck with your Packard!

I for one, would take a Metz on a long distance tour before a Yugo, West. Now if I could just get one of the big guys to respond to my idea of reviving the Apperson Jackrabbit - who wouldn't prefer driving that to the office over an "XLS" or "C-300"

Agree Dave. Let's face it the main reason one would look to tie a new automotive venture to the name would be to capitolize on it with those who know what it means. I believe most non car fans my age and younger (50) really don't connect those dots when it comes to Packard. This age group represents a huge demographic especially for a fledgling company. So consider this, a few years ago our Packard required the assistance of the friendly local AAA flatbed due to a failed headgasket. Wife calls it in - nice rep on the phone says "who makes it" "It is a Packard" "yes, but who makes it" - get the picture? So it would be an uphill battle at best. The technology & economies of scale only available to established manufacturers would render most independent efforts as crude by comparison. Oh, yes the above example is "fugly" for sure!

Chris we spotted the car but unfortunately missed you - the only issue yesterday was not enough time but I guess there never is... Seeker the truck was nice but the only other interesting vehicle in the corral by late Sunday was a '31 Lincoln sedan with the aluminum body - a friend has the same car but in a coupe/victoria type bodystyle. By then all that was left were a lot of sedans with strange wheels and stranger things tacked all over them... So I guess we threw away a half hour but I cannot seem to go without at least checking it out.

Thanks for posting these Dave!! Mrs. Mack and I had a great time, was looking for the '15 but I see you went under cover this year! We were actually pretty close by just beyond the bleachers. Saw Chris's car and soem other great early cars, and made some good contacts including Frank and John - and picked up a few small items so we are inching the Speedster closer to moving under its own power this summer. All in all a great day - but we resolved to do both days next year, swap simply takes too long to go through!

+1 to this idea, the only twist I would submit for consideration is making this program available to local regions for local AACA region sponsored shows (such as our Glastonbury, CT show on June 8 for you New England guys!!). This would encourage those who may not be inclined to make a larger meet but could support/add tremendous interest on the local front to bring the old stuff out!!

Mercedes Benz will honor a recall on certain 107 chassis models - 450 SL and I think 380 SL for subframe cracking. By the time the 560 SL was introduced improvements had been made. They will do the repairs either free or at a deep discount regardless of how many prior owners the car has had. Many scenarios regarding how dealers handle this in recent times are noted in the Benzworld forum. The newest 380 SL is now 29 years old. That to me, seems like a good example of standing behind something. Now if they would just do that on those single timing chains on the 380 SLs THAT would be impressive.... :cool:

So far I am hearing dry for most of the day Sunday - hurrah!

Agree with JV - one era where you can get a larger open car for under $30K. One example is the Marmon currently in the "buy/sell" section at I believe $18K, I have attached another ad (no affiliation, just a cool car for the money, IMO) for a 1918 Buick I think represents a great buy on a quality make, and not too far from usable from what I can tell: http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/cto/4397344571.html We have some pretty rugged demountable wooden wheels on the T Speedster, which I understand were initially made for closed cars. As much as guys value wires on these cars, I like the look of the big wooden wheel and white tires - they seem more rugged/safe to me than some of the wires I have seen, and I know from experience (Model A) wires can bend fairly easily.. GOOD LUCK And GO FOR IT!!

I had forgotten the LH lug nuts were LH side only i it has been a while. I learned so much from mine at age 14 (late 70s - a long time ago) not the least of which was it is never a good idea to rest your elbow on the battery terminal and try to pull a plug wire off when the engine is running... Not sure where the batt is on a 40 but trust me that lesson has stayed with me for 35 + years!!! I am sure this section of the forum covers parts well but we used "Andy Bernbaum" in MA, who I think is still in business. At the time parts for these were dirt cheap compared to Ford or even GM. Carby sits up nice and high, so you may not have as much ethenol issues as some of the prewar cars have either, I think carb placement has a lot to do with that.

Good for you. Along related lines sometimes that is one of the best ways to sell a car - getting it out around town, and to a couple local shows could net you a buyer if you still want to sell once you get it on the road. Invest a couple bucks in a shop manual - two unusual things to be aware of right away - the car is positive ground as most prewar cars are, and the lug nuts on the wheels I believe are threaded in the opposite direction of what is conventional. In other words, turning them to the right will loosen, rather than tighten them. Common among Mopars of this vintage, I know that was the case for my '41 and it is likely the case for your car as well. Glad you intend to put this car on the road - enjoy it!

Dave hope to actually meet up this year; Same with Seeker, who should be easy enough to spot. Mrs. Mack and I will easy to spot as we will most likely be advertising for our pal Tom Laferriere - he keeps the shirts/hats coming we are happy to wear them! Frank, where is your "usual spot"? We are new to the "T" so I may not know where it is but we do know the field really well - I need a few items for it; the whole ignition system including a "commutator"; good coils - likely rebuilt units as mine are iffy - a mag/batt/of switch any kind is fine as long as it has the right vintage look, a small or "bent" fan assy. bracket for the brass radiator "T", headlight brackets, water pump kit, upper water neck for brass T radiator, rear brake rebuilding kit off the top of my head. A lot of what we need like wiring harness, coil box kit I would expect to have to order but you never know what people have. We are leaning towards the Rootlieb curved fender set up but have not ruled out stock fenders, boards & splash if we found a clean set - this car will be lowered, but only a little bit so I am still on the fence on that look. Speedster specific parts as well - and engine speed parts I figure at least a period intake/dual exhaust manifold would be fun on this car. oh and books, all I have so far is the Clymer book from the early 60s and a stack of Vintage Ford mags. Mechanicals seem simple but different enough that I will need to do some more reading... Let me know where you will be - and thanks for replying, will definitely stop by your booth on Sunday!

Maybe a little more, but in agreement with these guys your in that neighborhood. Had almost the identical car - a '41 two door, and not surprised yours runs well. I believe that car ran better than many other cars I have had including a Packard 120. Smooth even with a couple trips around the odometer - this is definately not a parts car and does not look too far from going down the road this summer. Parts are inexpensive and they are not hard to work on.

Ed we usually go up Sunday - will shoot you an email/call later this week to check in -need to see if you made any progress in your "T" search also!

Any forum members (besides Dandy Dave whose car I have seen two - three times but never the man himself!!) heading to Rhinebeck this weekend? Always a Spring favorite - bringing a shopping list for the T Speedster and you never know what else could be out there..

Guy, thanks once again for your usual great advice. Definately going with the short, bent bracket and I figured the aluminum pulley was an advantage over the older style. I was looking at an older riveted fan assy. and the blades seemed very small - I thought it was cut down but strangely the ends seemed too perfect for that. Vendor could not tell for sure. So I went with the larger, later fan assuming it would fit or I could make it fit with minimal effort. Can't tell for certain but eyeballing the assy. up against the rad seems to indicate a tight fit, but a fit. If I need to I could take a little off the fan blades, and the plan is to run a waterpump as well, about the only engine accesory I think I will need at this time... P.S. - if you attend Hershey this year let me know, would like to buy you some breakfast or lunch!

Anyone know if the later Model T fan (larger pulley, blades screw into hub vs, rivets) assy. will work in a brass radiador vs. black radiator car? Not so concerned with authenticity but found a nice later assembly. I already know the mounting bracket will need to be changed. THANKS Steve

Roberto, this is a "soft lead" or educated guess, but could it be he initials of Doc Powers who I understand ran a museum in Southington, CT (before my time) in the late 50s - early 60s? There has been discussion on this somewhere in this forum. If I can think of the name of the museum or provide any additional details will share them. Seal Cove is on our vist list for later this year!

+1 on Guy's reply, who also gave me some great "T" advice not too long ago. That and all those wonderful finds - a real master!!

Dave I have a "T" now although I have never driven one!! I had a ride in a friends a few years ago and have seen a couple videos. Will likely teach myself in the neighborhood as we are in an area I can do that with... I need to get this car together as another regular here is considering a T and I told him he is welcome to drive this one if he wants. The chassis is essentially done with the exception of a couple engine accesories like timer and coils, and the "Emergency" or parking brakes need to be rebuilt - will do that before we leave the yard! Restorer how did it go??

That event is begging to be forever preserved through the magic of the cell phone video and YouTube....

Seeker, any recourse with the appraiser? While I believe in the process I also think these guys are just like any other contractors - just like the person you hire to do work on your house (which we have been doing a bit of this Spring) - you get good ones, terrible ones and a lot of mediocre ones - the great ones are few and far between as most people don't treat work they do for others the same way they would on their own home or car. I may get flack for this but I believe it to be true. Your guy likely went down a checklist and maybe even relied too much on the other guy with him if he was there to help as a marque expert - but if he was not being paid for his expertise, or even if he was but is not a pro appraiser, he may have looked at the inspection as a fun afternoon activity but not as having an engagement with a fiduciary duty to the client. I have friends who have done long distance purchases regularly without a personal inspection but I would have a hard time doing that personally.

David I agree with your assessment. I would have been interested in this but the full fendered T Speedster is close enough conceptually unless this is really close to CT and priced realistically. Did you happen to see the nice red '10 Hup runabout Jessie Morton displayed in the Choc field a few years ago at Hershey? He and the car are local to me and I understand it was a pretty easy restoration, especially for a pro - he likened to "a giant model" - but apparently the T will run away from either of these cars. I would think having plans from a "plan car" would be a big help. I think the Hups bring a little more but it would be cool to rescue an old timer like that for sure. Hope the OP comes back with some more info and pics.

Good luck on the Chrysler or whatever you pursue bln!! FWIW I think the Chrysler is around $10K underpriced now but still sitting @ $ 22,700 as of a few minutes ago. Your a winner anywhere under $35K on that one, IMHO. Al, I agree with your comments completely. Non Model A cars of the same vintage can present some hassle in terms of keeping 'em on the road (at least relative to an "A" ) and unless a hot brand, can take longer to sell. I could see us getting another "A" - I like roadsters, wife likes pick ups. I am not sure how well I would fit in a pickup as I understand they are tight. We used this logic in the selection of a "T" for the speedster build vs. a larger chassis which may have been cool, but perhaps next time.. The "T" I can get anything for, and it is simple/small enough/documented enough in terms of repair guides, etc. that I can actually build the car largely at home. Update: Chrysler sold for $24,699 IMO, a great buy.

Great lines on these little cars. Saw this the other day and was hoping the OP was going to come on back with a little more info. As noted elsewhere in this forum, there does seem to be a few of these surviving which is interesting. I wonder if the sporting style has something to do with that.