A. Ballard 35R

Gotta love that "A" gas rationing sticker.

Early Mercers used Beaver 4 cylinder engines.

Followed a few lots yesterday and found some of the prices interesting to say the least. For example - '36 Cord Beverley $56,000 '37 Packard Twelve $39,000 '35 Packard Eight 7 Passenger $35,000 '53 Packard Caribbean $47,000 Above are hammer prices and do not include buyer fee.

Tom, great car and nice write-up. Please note that there is a minor discrepancy in that picture shows floor shift as opposed to column shift mentioned in written description. Love to have it but too nice for me since I would want to drive it and enjoy it.

Peter S, were your ancestors responsible for the Red Flag Act in the UK or the similar one in Vermont?

Ron, it appears that your car only has one brake pedal and not the second one with the ratchet that can be used as a parking brake. As I recall, the two worked on different sets of bands on the rear differential. It's been many years since I've driven one, a1902, and perhaps the later ones were different.

Don't forget the wonderful steamers at Auburn Heights, Yorklyn.

Ron, You mentioned that many of the earlier Locomobiles were replicas or made up. Is there anyone tracking the survivors and showing them as such, simiiar to what is done on the Stanley Register? I assume that the whereabouts of the early cars is well known. Several come to mind such as the 1899 Warren Weiant car and the 1900 Stan Tarnopol car, both of which were AACA award winning cars years ago. In addition, the 1900(?) Bob Lyon car restored meticulously by Dick French around 1950 is another example of older restorations of Locomobiles that were not made up. Do you know where these cars are today and where the later 1901 and 1902 survivors are?

Ron, your information is very interesting and I am still trying to absorb it. Is there a Locomobile roster keeper for the steamers ?

Al, I also was under the impression that the Stanley twins sold their patents to Locomobile. In addition, when Stanley decided to get back in the steam car business around 1903 their first model was their earlier vertical engine with a chain to the rear axle. Since this was a direct infringement on the patents sold to Locomabile, Stanley was immediately sued by Locomobile. Stanley didn't fight the lawsuit, instead redesigning their car by mounting the engine directky on the rear axle. It was this major design change that caused Locomobile and others using a chain to drive the rear axle to rethink their future. Ron, please enlighten us as to this interesting history..

Cant help but be reminded of that old saying, "If you don't drive them why don't you collect clocks?" Sorry, couldn't resist and I'm sure the arrows will be headed towards me.

New Hampshire requires antiques less than 40 years old to have an annual inspection; every other year for vehicles more than 60 years old and antiques over 60 years old are exempt. Theoretically, these provisions prevent the type of abuses mentioned in prior posts.

Welcome to NH and specifically the Lakes Region. I assume you are aware that Wolfeboro is a hot bed of antique car lovers where there are Duesenbergs, Rolls Royces, all models of Fords to large numbers of newer cars. There are some outstanding private collections throughout the area. The Granite Region of the AACA has announced an interesting calendar of events and you might contact the region president Jonathan James if you have not already done so. As a former resident of PA I learned many years ago that New Hampshire does some things similar to PA and many things unique to NH, the Live Free or Die state. Do not worry about the DMV restrictions unless you will be using your cars as daily drivers. Many register their newer antiques with regular plates but most of us use antique plates due to lower costs and every other year inspections to none at all in the case of your cars. You will see many antiques and Classics with out of state tags, in fact, there was a 1911 car with a permanent PA purple tag that never had a problem. Registrations are mostly done at your local town clerk's office in town hall. All you need is your registration and title. New Hampshire does not automatically issue titles to antiques; consequently, most of us go through the additional paperwork to get a title. Unfortunately, AAA is of no assistance in New Hampshire. Feel free to send a PM if you have any questions.

I believe the car is known to one or more of the Packard roster keepers who will hopefully be posting soon. Has a price been given ?

Interesting that the unrestored 640 touring went for $25,760 at Bonhams.