tbirdman Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 I've been having a blast with my 32 Packard especially since the bad coil was replaced. No more coming home on a flatbed...which the neighbors were quick to point out that they had seen the car on a flatbed <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> I've been getting to know the car and so far as reveal a few things that need to be remedy, but nothing to serious. Been keeping it at 55 or below which seems fast enough for traffic flow around Portland.Weather warmed up enough this week to take the top down. I have an ongoing discussions with my neighbors regarding two things.Does the car, a 32 coupe roadster, look better with the top up or down. I think it looks better with the top up, but most think it looks better with the top down.Second, should the rumble seat compartment be closed while driving with no passengers in the rumble seat or should you have it open even if you have a passenger back there.Just curious about your opinions especially since I'm always 180 degrees out of phase with the majority here <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom M Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Hi Ken,<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Second, should the rumble seat compartment be closed while driving with no passengers in the rumble seat or should you have it open even if you have a passenger back there.</div></div>I sure hope you keep it open when you have a passenger sitting back there. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> From my experience when driving with the rumble seat open (no passengers) I did feel a difference in how the car handled. The car seemed to drag more with it open. When I am driving alone or a passenger up front with me I keep the lid closed.Boy am I jealous of you all that can drive your cars as this warm weather is hitting us. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. Maybe I should sell my HD and buy a running car while the '31 is down. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
West Peterson Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Coupe-roadsters look great with the top up or down. It's the convertible victorias and sedans that don't look so great with the top down. As for the rumble lid, I prefer to see the nice smooth lines of the car, so IMHO it looks better closed. That goes for mounting an accessory trunk as well. It's a nice feature (and possibly a conversation starter), but it looks better without being on the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Yep, top Up and lid Closed. More aerodynamicly streamlined that way. Can Go Faster! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> But, if you want to Impress the Girls, then it's top Down and lid Open. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 It has a 3 position top so if you're in a European/semi-formal/closed rear quarter mood you could drive it that way as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirdman Posted May 31, 2006 Author Share Posted May 31, 2006 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Boy am I jealous of you all that can drive your cars as this warm weather is hitting us. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />. Maybe I should sell my HD and buy a running car while the '31 is down. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> </div></div>That's why I sorta enjoy the 6 months of rainy weather and 6 months of great sunny weather here in Oregon. It gives me time to do those winter projects on cars. It would kill me live in a place with a great climate year round because I would not want to put the car(s) out of commission at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirdman Posted May 31, 2006 Author Share Posted May 31, 2006 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Coupe-roadsters look great with the top up or down. It's the convertible victorias and sedans that don't look so great with the top down. As for the rumble lid, I prefer to see the nice smooth lines of the car, so IMHO it looks better closed. That goes for mounting an accessory trunk as well. It's a nice feature (and possibly a conversation starter), but it looks better without being on the car. </div></div>I have come to agreement with you on the trunk which I was considering earlier. It just doesn't seem to fit on a coupe roadster. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Morbius Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Ya gotta go top down and lid closed - especially if you have your mother-in-law back there! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ..........................Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Morbius Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Of course , if it's raining - just the opposite! <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> ....................Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mitchell Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 I think that most convertibles look better with the top down. I have a 41 160 convertible and I haven't seen the top for years. My 37 has no top on it, and so far I haven't missed it. I do like the 32 - 34 coupe roadsters either way, but most guys are so afraid that their top material will get a wrinkle in it that they never, ever put them down, if they will even go down, so you seldom see them. These same guys would cut the top off of a coupe and make it into a roadster to have a convertible. Often the top designs look like an afterthought or a necessary evil. I think that showing a Packard Darrin, Auburn Speedster, or Mercedes Benz Special roadster, or disappearing top Murphy roadster Model J with the top up should get an automatic 5 point deduction, the same for most Ferraris. The big convertible sedans to me look longer and lower and like great parade cars with the top down, and there again, you seldom see one with the top down, so it is even more interesting when you do. The late 30s Packard convertibles have lower windshields than the sedans and this is accentuated when you put the top down. The 35 - 39 convertible sedans look particularly elegant topless to me, along with the 34 - 37 Cad V16s, they look a block long. I think that the same goes for town cars. I think that my town car was completely transformed when I opened the top up, and I never close it. Having a rumble seat is pretty cool for the neighbors who never see such a thing otherwise, and it is fun to see them, but the lines are probably cleaner with the lid down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K8096 Posted May 31, 2006 Share Posted May 31, 2006 Random thoughts:The problem with putting the top down on a convertible sedan or convertible victoria is you end up with a pile of rags. There is SO MUCH top material to scrunch down it's hard to get it compact enough to get the top boot on, and the top material can get irreversibly marked. Obviously roadsters & conv. coupes don't have this problem because there isn't that much top material. Most shows you see these cars at are judges shows, so they have to have the top up for judging anyway. On a roadster or phaeton with no windows you get so much wind you don't need the top down anyway when driving. As far as the rumble seat goes, think for a moment how the cars were driven when they were new. I doubt you would have seen someone driving with the rumble seat lid open & no passangers, that's just more work to have to open & close it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Mitchell Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 I have judged at CCCA events and at several concours including Pebble Beach. At Pebble you can show top up or down, whatever you think is the best advantage for your car. As judges we are allowed to ask an owner to either put down a top that is up to make sure it will fold, or put up a top that is down to make sure it looks nice. I have never seen a judge at Pebble do either, and I can say that I doubt that any judge there would make a deduction for a wrinkled top. With modern materials, I don't think that it is a huge problem anyway. CCCA requires that power tops work and I have never seen anyone move their top more than half an inch, so I don't think most judges are overly critical. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirdman Posted June 1, 2006 Author Share Posted June 1, 2006 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have judged at CCCA events and at several concours including Pebble Beach. At Pebble you can show top up or down, whatever you think is the best advantage for your car. As judges we are allowed to ask an owner to either put down a top that is up to make sure it will fold, or put up a top that is down to make sure it looks nice. I have never seen a judge at Pebble do either, and I can say that I doubt that any judge there would make a deduction for a wrinkled top. With modern materials, I don't think that it is a huge problem anyway. CCCA requires that power tops work and I have never seen anyone move their top more than half an inch, so I don't think most judges are overly critical. </div></div>I guess it depends on the show. At the local Forest Grove Concours the judges made me raise my top. At the Thunderbird concours last year the car had to start with the top up and then lowered. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest imported_Speedster Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> At the Thunderbird concours last year the car had to start with the top up and then lowered. </div></div>It seems to me that is the way It Should be. Since the folding top is what makes a convertible a special car and a very important part of the car, they should be judged with them up, down and the operation. But only if it is being compaired to other convertibles in the class. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbirdman Posted June 1, 2006 Author Share Posted June 1, 2006 <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> Since the folding top is what makes a convertible a special car and a very important part of the car, they should be judged with them up, down and the operation. But only if it is being compaired to other convertibles in the class. </div></div>I've entered my fair share of the informal local cruise in with the Thunderbird. I'm usually in the convertible class. I'm always amazed of the number of kit car cobras that are entered in the convertible class. I always wanted to see their tops <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I hate being told that a plastic car is better than mine. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Randy Berger Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 What's the matter? You don't like Tupperware? <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Albert Posted June 2, 2006 Share Posted June 2, 2006 Rumble seat open with a women in the seat in a string bikini... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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