pbug56

Agreed. The dual ignition our SP P1was built with was superb.

Thanks!

Why is the front bumper pointed downward?

The Sp P1 reminds me so much of the one I grew up with and took care of, a Brewster limo. 28. Iron head.

Any information on these photos?

I've heard of such, but not in connection to our 243; mainly about cars from years earlier. Packard too, tended to offer a choice of wheel types.

I remember that our P1 SP limo (Brewster) 1928 had wire wheels. My father also had a Packard 243 Tr (which I still have) with disc wheels. While I like wire better, I get that what's best can vary with the overall body design.

Why disc instead of wire? My dad preferred wire.

Except that a P1 had so many more moving pieces. 2 ignition systems, 2 separate carbs plus the mixture control, but one thing in common - none of it was automated back then.

Interesting. RROA in Springfield never built P2's, and I've never gotten a good look inside.

The SP P1's, at least around 1928-29, also had the separate starting carb, but it was operated, as I recall, by a lever on the 'dashboard'. The primary carb had a mixture control on the steering wheel hub on top; at full rich it also injected oil to deal with oil runoff when the car was shut down. As you moved the mixture lever to the right, you could feel a bit of extra resistance. This all led to a fairly crazy starting sequence, for anyone who doesn't know it (cold engine). Mixture to full rich. Hand throttle open, spark retarded. Key turned, spark lever to both, depress starter button with your foot. Engine catches, you lift your foot, start to advance, after a few seconds turn off the starting carb, start to ease off the mixture. Continue to engine smooth, mixture to reflect what altitude you were at. That's it, more or less, multiple pages in the owners manual to get through the sequence. And of course, don't forget a pull on the Bijur, preferably on the street, not your garage floor or driveway. Engine warm, you MIGHT get away with turn key, ignition to both, throttle open, mixture a bit rich, flick spark advance lever up and down, mixture in cylinders ignites, engine starts. Taught myself with the help of the manual, and things I heard at car shows! 🙂

The SP P1 had full dual ignition, and could run on either, but normally ran on both. I also noticed, in one photo, that the SG had what looked like the same beautiful brass carb. As a teen, starting and running the P1 engine was quite a pleasure once we got the carbs rebuilt.

I see that there are layout differences in the engine vs. the P1. Anyone have any detail on this? As I recall, on the P1 the distributors are on the left, both carbs on the right. Though it has been 30 years or so since I last looked at my Dad's 28 SP P1.

Why would someone paint a natural wood dashboard at all, let alone with yellow paint? Same with the steering wheel center rim. And is there a viable way to restore that? A few questions (just for my personal understanding). 1. What is the correct type of windshield for a Packard 243 (outside of unusual cars) - single piece or double piece? I've been told that only very late ones (like mine, built May 1926) can be single piece, Series 3 windshield, but that most were double piece (one above the other). 2. Shape of glass in back on the convertible top of a Touring (assuming bodied by Packard)? 3. Would a 243 have had an external drivers side horn? IOTW, was it an available option, or did someone add it later? It certainly isn't necessary. It's nice to have a car which has been in only one or two families. Ours was bought in June 1926 to replace a 1916 Packard Touring Car, and my father bought it in 1966. As to ours, I would never call it original since the top and radiator were replaced, and it was repainted once.