John Bloom

A strong price for a four door sedan, but I like it. You will never know unless you go see it in person. The price might be negotiable, and still a lot of money for a sedan, but if it’s super clean and everything is perfect and it runs well and doesn’t have a laundry list of things incorrect or not working or in poor condition, you’re probably better off paying a little bit of a premium as opposed to saving 10 grand and buying a car with needs that either never get done, or if they do, you’ll spend over 20 grand doing them.

After days of below zero weather, we had a solid week of rain and 40° in northern Illinois and the roads are pretty clean. 44° and sunny today so I just thought why not. This is a car that was sleeping for maybe 10 years and was woken up last summer. After staying close to home and a run in the neighborhood, I was back in the driveway and let it idle for about 10 minutes and then put her away. I was shocked that there was not a single drop of oil and coolant or gas on the drive. I’m really looking forward to this coming summer to take some of the details and sorting up a notch or two.

It too is fabulous.

They have some really nice custom body offerings of those models. Here is a 147 body by Dietrich at Tom Hubbards museum in Tucson. 5,000 dollars for this custom bodied example. I’ve seen this car many times and it is just really a clean attractive Franklin.

I think we all know the answer to this...... because you can't have too many Auburns......

I see this car from a slightly different point of view. for a farmer or guy who owns an industrial warehouse or factory and has virtually unlimited storage...... a place you could have a beer or coffee with your buddies and collect all kinds of crazy stuff inside and never fill it up, this might be a really cool piece of garage art for <$5,000. I’ve paid close to that for some nice 20 footer visible gas pumps/signage. And this car is way cooler/more interesting than a visible gas pump.

Me too. That would be almost consistently 10 cars a day out the chute to be sold in a 5 day work week All year long with virtually no slowdown or stoppage. I'm interested in how that yearly production number compared to Pierce Arrow, Locomobile, McFarlan, Cunningham, Other US Makes with large WB platforms and large Displacement engines in those years. Where are all those Wintons.....? I wonder about their survival rate compared to the peers they had in 1916?

Interesting car. It looks like in 1916 they offered a 138 in WB with a 524 cubic inch 6 and a 128 in WB with a 348 cubic inch 6. price ranges were 3,500-4,600 for the larger models and 2,200-3,500 for the smaller offerings. they seem to be a well engineered big platform. I’d be curious to see what the annual output/production of cars Winton was building in those years.

Hang in there. Looks like a reasonable car. I like the Buicks of this era. You mention that it runs good. May I suggest shooting a video of it starting and being driven and put it up on YouTube and link that to this thread. I think it could help you find a serious buyer that is looking for a nice Buick of your year. Is it 118 or 124 inch wheelbase?

Since we're talking about Post war Packard Clippers, Here is a 46 Deluxe Clipper four door Sedan. Not to be confused with the Custom Clipper also being discussed on the "NOT MINE FOR SALE" forum. This is a smaller straight 8 (282), shorter wheelbase (120 inches) and a four door sedan. It has been listed for a while. The interior certainly looks usable and the ad says it runs and drives. If that 47 two door Custom is champaign, here is a good beer for you. Not the basic Clipper with a 6 cyl engine and certainly a fun usable car with a straight 8 for not much money. This looks like a great in town car for somebody to buy cheap and clean up. After 32 weeks for sale, they might be ready to let it go. The interior and dash is nice for the money and I love that split windshield. https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/842892063937760/ Nice car no rust new tires. Runs drives great Straight 8 engine manual transmission nice interior

I always look at cars (and other things) with some thought on “opportunity costs”. The car is very cool. If it is really all there and the negatives are represented by what you see.......let’s say buyer and seller meet at 25K? What else interests you and is available for around 25? What kind of collectible car are you passionate about? At 25K you might get a near perfect open model A Ford..... or A nice driver 1931 closed Franklin with presentable paint, interior and runs well. Or a project beautiful, rare 47 custom 8 two door fastback Packard. different people Are inclined to go down one of these three pathways. I feel somewhat cursed that I feel the pull towards the more high end project car. I need bold friends to constantly save me from myself.

Same here in northern Illinois. We’ve had two types of weather here in the last three weeks. Eight below zero, or 40 and raining.

As you ponder how much time you have left in life, and what you might do with that time, it seems really depressing to think you'd push all your chips into the center of the table on this..........I'd never openly criticize someone if they did but..........this one would be best to let pass.

I agree with you, but I still kind of wish I bought a 328 or 348 back when there were lots to choose from for $28,000. It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago.

I know just enough about these Fiat Dino’s to be dangerous, the engine is marvelous and the body is OK so I they’re collectible, in particular since a real Ferrari Dino is now north of 400,000. It seems to me that these change hands every so often but they are under 100K The engine is the whole point of having one and this one doesn’t have it.

If I had to guess, I would say fewer than 5% of Packard 120 sedans break above the $30,000 mark. I think most sell in the teens. ....Really nice ones in the high teens and those that are a little scruffy in the low teens.

Nice subtle irony with the Winton plate on your Speedster. I suppose the Packard family could circle back to Alexander Winton (were he still living in 1930), and say “let us present exhibit A to your challenge some 30 years ago” that Speedster is “Special”. Share pics often with us!

That is very cool West. I love a good license plate display. Hopefully some more information will come out about these great cars. As for Steve getting a Bullet for the AACA building, they made three. Not sure where they all ended up. any idea if the Winton that those plates were registered to, the doctors car, is still around?

So I've been doing a little more research into Winton. A fascinating story and it impresses me how successful they were in those early years of the start of automobile production. A Cleveland Ohio Manufacturer, Winton, like others, segued from bicycle production into cars. Winton claimed to have produced over 100 vehicles in 1899 making it the highest production auto manufacturing company in the US. In addition to James Packard, the Vanderbilt family were early owners as well, buying two in 1901. In 1902 Winton produced the Winton Bullet (of which there were eventually three made) and set an unofficial land speed record in the US of 70 mph in Cleveland that year. Winton Bullet #1 at Smithsonian Museum

Very cool, I like it a lot. I hope someone on here is close by, can go check it out with an open mind and be pleasantly surprised. Settling estate and asking 25K could mean it sells for much less if no one is knocking on the door and the heirs want to tidy things up ASAP.

Great plan. Good luck and share as you can on your progress.

Nathan, congratulations! I’ve been watching this car since it first appeared on Facebook marketplace and I put a link to it here on this site. I just think it’s a special car and I’m excited for a new owner to take it and enjoy it. Please share with us the process of getting it, and what you learn and what your plans are if you don’t mind.

A good point you make Terry. Finding that balance where the relationship is a respectful two way street and never too one sided is important. I have on occasion bought some things from them that I was pretty neutral about, but I could see in their eyes how pleased they were that they found something they thought I would really enjoy. I bought it for the relationship, and if it is bought well, it can always be passed along to friends or other people.

I look at some of the usual places that are internet based, but I think over half of my purchases come from three different individuals/couples who own antique stores and have a great eye. These three shops are places that I've bought from for years. I have gotten to know them well through the years, and they have now become my friends. I have bought consistently from them, refuse to "bicker on price" (I pay their asking price up front which I've found to be very fair), and don't constantly ask " is that your best price? Will you take (lowball price)???". These are smart people, if they know whatever price they state, you're going to ask to pay lower, they just adjust the price up so they can come down some and make you feel like you negotiated shrewdly......They know I will pay their fair asking price up front. All three are in rural Indiana which has such a different price point than metropolitan areas (I live in the northern Chicago suburbs). I am routinely impressed at the price they will sell something to me and they are still taking a profit portion for themselves. Since they know what I like, they are on the lookout for me as they buy for their stores. I am looking for a large statement Neon sign. One of them called me Thursday morning after negotiating to buy a fabulous piece. He wanted to know if I wanted it before it became available to others through their store (I passed, on a large two sided bullet nosed Neon sign that was 80 years old, because although cool, didn't have any relevance to other things I collect. However I sure appreciated their offer to me before publicly sharing the piece) I guess what i'm trying to say is that I have built some wonderful relationships with a few people who look for things I'm interested in and it is a mutually beneficial relationship. It has taken time....years.....but for me it is the most fun way to find great stuff. I have a full time job and other time commitments but these people are "in the business" and know what is special and what is not. Lean on friends to find great stuff, and develop those relationships. In the end, the friendship will be great and the cool stuff you find through them really becomes secondary.

I like it!