PACKARDS INTERNATIONAL MOTOR CAR CLUB SAN DIEGO REGION

VOLUME FIVE SEPTEMBER 1979 NUMBER 9

OFFICERS

John Sands -- President 224 - 8558

Bob Hill -- Vice President 277 - 9065

Randy Light -- Secre tary and 270 - 8031 Membership Chairman

Joe Shaw -- Treasurer 278 - 1136

AI Shearer -- Activities Chairman 271 - 1395

Mark Rothermich -- Technical Committee 466 - 4658

James Dahmann -- Publications Chairman 1 - 748 - 3244

Jim Price -- Projects Chairman 280 - 5683

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

September 5 General Meeting, 7:00 P.M. North Park Recreation Center, Shuffleboard Clubhouse.

September 29, 30 All-Cal Tour. Prepare now for a great weekend

in beautiful, sunny San Diego.

October 3 General Meeting

October 27 _ San Sylmar Tour. Read story in this issue of our newsletter.

PRESIDENTIAL PODIUM John Sands

DUST IN THE WIND

Since this was to be a family vacation, ostensibly at least, I couldn't very well take along any rosters of Packard owners. That would have tested too greatly the bonds of matrimony.

They would have been of little use any way, as there was little to be seen on the road. Aside from three dusty model A Ford sedans picking their way west across the Arizona desert between Kayenta and Tuba City, and a '48 Deluxe sedan poking its nose out of a barn in Helper, Utah, the highways were empty of any working old cars.

So you can imagine my surprise when I encountered an automobile museum in Virginia City, Montana. Present day Virginia City, in remote southwestern Montana, is the ghost of a prosperous mining town that flourished from about 1890 until the local silver vein ran out in 1920. It died abruptly, and, apparently, the father of the present museum owner bought up all the cars in town and stored them in a local garage, where they have sat to this day, cared for but completely original and unrestored.

For me it was akin to seeing Pompeii. Here was the entire automotive legacy of a small town, frozen in time, virtually unchanged from the time it was plucked from the streets sixty years before. Alas, there were no Packards. Nevertheless, some of the cars were very impressive. They included a 1913 Lozier, two Mitchells (a roadster and a town car), a 1906 Cadillac, two Hupmoblies, and a smattering of model T's. Just about what you would expect to find in a .small town in the late teens.

About a thousand miles southwest of Virginia City is another auto collection in Sparks, Nevada. Of course, I mean Harrah's, which I visited a week later. As I had never seen it before, I think I now understand the feelings of the Moslem who, having completed his pilgrimage, stands before the gates of Mecca. The collection is surely a national treasure.

Although Harrah's collection is several orders of magnitude greater in size and scope than the

PRESIDENTIAL PODIUM (continued)

Virginia City collection, the two are much more alike than is apparent at first glance. They deal in the same coin and are the result of the same sort of obsession, the size of either of them being limited only by the availability of vehicles and money with which to purchase them. Which brings this whole obtuse discussion a little bit closer to home. One of the fascinations of an auto collection is that we tend to identify with the owner. After all, aren't most of us collectors? Well, the answer to that one is another story which you will hear next month.

SAN SYLMAR TRIP TAKES SHAPE

by Jim Price

It looks like we'll fill up our San Sylmer tour with no trouble! At the August meeting, 43 sign-ups were put forward, so.if you want to get on the list, be sure to attend the September meeting, or call John Sands and tell him you're interested.

The date of the tour is October 27. We've arranged for a charter bus to take us to Sylmar; it'll cost $7.00 a head. I'm also arranging for a restaurant in the L.A. area for a group lunch after the tour. So the whole business is going to cost $12 - $13 dollars a piece for transportation and lunch. The tour itself is free, incredibly.

Here's the current sign-up list. If you are on it, you need to pay for the indicated number of people no later than our October meeting (October 3). If you have changes to make or want to be added, corne to the September meeting. The first 50 people who pay will go!

Sands (4), Light (2), Smith (1) Hager (2), Dahmann (4), Dougherty (2), Rothermich (1), Shaw (1), Hill (2) Hartinger (6),' Yankee (2), Haynes (3), King (2), Stierwalt (3), Price (4), Kowalski (2). Shearer (2) by car.

This will be a super tour - San Sylmar is a beautiful private collection of primarily classic cars and automatic ' musical instruments. It all belongs to J.B. Nethercutt, President of Merle Norman Cosmetics, and it is all housed in a truly elegant, tasteful "Tower of Beauty" in the town of Sylmar near San Fernando. Tours are given by prior arrangement only, and it's an almost unbelievable, moving experience! Sign up now to go with us - it's a rare opportunity.

ALL-CAL TOUR IN SAN DIEGO FEATURES DICK TEAGUE AS GUEST SPEAKER

by Jim Price

Dick Teague, former head of styling at Packard and now Vice President for styling at AMC, will headline the All-California PI Tour in San Diego September 29-30. Dick's banquet speech will top off an outstanding weekend of Packarding.

Teague, born and raised in Los Angeles, was involved in styling at Packard from 1951 to 1956. Besides designing the beautiful '55 and '56 Packard and Clipper lines, he designed and named several Packard show cars, including the still futuristic "Predictor." Dick designed aircraft prior to coming to Packard, and he's been at AMC as head stylist for AMC/Jeep products since 1959. Dick is an antique auto buff himself, and has a '32 dual-cowl Phaeton as part of his collection. His talk, entitled "My Years at Packard" promises to be fascinating, as he'll include some truly unique and candid information and photos.

The All-Cal headquarters and accommodations will be at the luxurious and exclusive Kona Kai Club on Shelter Island, San Diego Bay. Open only to members and conventions, the Club features the finest in swimming, tennis, racquetball, relaxing j acuzzis and direct access to beautiful San Diego Bay.

Events of the Tour proper include a Saturday afternoon visit to the Castle of Cars, a lovely private collection in downtown San Diego; a private Saturday evening cocktail cruise on San Diego Bay (the boat pulls up to our dock!); a delicious banquet dinner featuring Dick Teague as speaker; a Sunday morning brunch at the gorgeous, old, victorian Hotel del Coronado; and a ship tour , at North Island Naval Air Station.

Sound good? You bet! And the best news is that the entire package price is only $35 per person (plus lodging). Please use the registration form mailed to you with the most recent PI magazine. If you need a form, or want more information, send a SASE to Mark Rothermich, Tour Chairman, 5440 Kiowa Dr. No23, La Mesa, Ca., 92041, or call him at (714) 466-0087. Please register no later than September 8.

Note that very little driving will be don~ on the Tour, in order to save gas. Gas in San Diego should be no problem, assuming that the present supplies hold steady.

Come to San Diego, September 29 and 30, and enjoy a Packard experience second to none!

TECHNICAL CORNER by Mark Rothermich

Those of you who recall the excellent article on brake fluids from our July 1977 newsletter will remem ber that at that time the only known supplier of DOT 5 silicone based fluid was John Bamberg of Houston, Texas. We now know of a few local sources of supply; Harley Davidson Co. of San Diego, 929 India St., San piego, Ca., Tel., 233-6247, Cost: $6.95 for 12 oz., $50.00 for 1 gal.; Performance World, 3550 University Ave., San Diego, Cal., Tel., 284-3666; EDCO, 1525 W. McMher No.15, Costa Mesa, Ca., 92626, Cost: $11.95 for 12 oz., $39.95 for 19a1.

To briefly recap the advantages of this type of fluid over all others, the article summerized them by saying that the fluid is Department of Transportation (DOT) approved; has a very high boiling point, will not absorb moisture, will not cause corrosion, and will not harm a car's finish. This fluid is recommended for all Packards with hydraulic tops, seats, windows and brakes.

While I am on the subject of hydraulic systems, the name and address of a hydraulic pump repair outfit was passed along to me. Jim's Trim Shop, Rt. 1, Box 322, Joshua, Texas 76058, Tel., 817-645-5270. They rebuild hydraulic pumps used from 1940 to 1954 and offer a 2 page catalog for $1.00.

Going from hydraulic to water pumps .... Those engines having water pumps with one of the mounting bolts directly above an engine mount, have probably discovered that, over time, the rubber mount has collapsed slightly allowing the engine to sink down and thereby covers up the lower mounting bolt on the water pump. This doesn't become a problem until you need to remove the water pump to repair it. There is a way to remove the pump without removing too many other components. First acquire 3 sections of 2 x 4, two of which should be approximately as long as the oil pan. Place these two pieces along each side of the pan where it meets the bottom of the engine block. Place the third piece underneath the others at right angles. Now, place a jack beneath this assembly and move the engine up enough to remove the water pump. Note: You may have to loosen the engine mounting bolts slightly in order to gain enough clearance.

Finally those of you who do business with J .C. Whitney & Co. should be aware that the Chicago based firm is under Chapter 11 in the Federal Bankruptcy Court as of June 25. Any claims for orders placed before June 25 may be filed with the court appointed supervisor Norman Nachman, 115 So. LaSalle St., Chicago, 111.,60603.

I would like to thank mem ber Frank Eggers for part of the information used in this column. If you have information that could be of use to others, pass it along to me at the meetings or tours, or write me at 5440 Kiowa Dr., No. 23, La Mesa, Ca., 92041 or call me at 466-0087. I'll appreciate it very much. HP

PARTS FOR SALE Cylinder Heads for Packard 6 (1937-49) and Packard 8 (288 cid) 1948-54. Make offer! Mark Rothermich 466-0087 (evenings).

NEW MEMBER

Fred Perkins (Margaret) 3022 Mary Lane Escondido, Calif. 92025 (714) 743 - 9631

1933 Model 1002, 4 door sedan

Auctioneer Wendy Gold sits behind wheel of 1934 Packard phaeton.

656 lor '34 Packard' Only 3,400 miles on this old beauty!

By MARCIA KRAMER It was a vintage cream puff, a

1934 beige and brown Packard phaeton /touring cat owned by a little old lady who only drove it half a mile down the road to church on Sundays.

Yesterday it was sold at auction for $65.000 to an unidentified Massa­chusetts antique car collector.

William Doyle of William Doyle Galleries auction house here said the car was part of the estate of Grace Merrill Magee, who died in April at 94. She left the contents of her 150-year-old classic revival house in War­rensburg, N.Y., and all her posses­sions to charity.

So yesterday Doyle's job was to auction off the goods to the highest bidder.

The auctioneer waxed poetic when

he came to- the car, which he de­scribed as a Hbeauty."

"It's in mint condition with only 3,400 miles on it," Doyle said.

That's an average of 75 miles a year.

The car came with the original bill of sale which showed that Magee knew the value of a buck. You see, she bought the car in 1934, in the middle of the 'depression, so she got the dealer to give her a $500 price reduction for paying cash.

The receipt showed she paid a cool $3,485 for the auto.

Though some 1,500 people showed up for the 81Jction, which was held on the grounds of the Warrensburg estate, only 20 bid on the car.

And the lucky new owner bought himself a car that's sure to be a hit on any gas line. After all. the Pack· ard was never known for gas mileage.

Courtesy of Robert Grant, Jr., DDS.

THE SATLIlUAY E\'E:\"I"'G POST

NEVER BEFORE liAS ANY CAR GONE SO FAR, SO FAST! Its mighty V-8 engine spurred by 5-Rib Cham­pion Spark Plugs, a Packard Sedan powered by a pre-production 1955 Packard Patrician engine made automotive history in a 25,OOO-mile_ en­durance test certified and timed bv the Contest Board of the American Automobil~ Association.

All distance-speed records were exceeded as this great motorcar covered a distance greater than the earth's circumference at the equator with an average speed of 104.73 m.p.h.!

Full-firing Champions-exactly as supplied by

your neighborhood Champion dealer-func­tioned periectly during the entire run, turning every drop of gasoline into useful power, sending the sleek Packard to one of the greatest perform­ance runs ever attained by a motorcar.

MORE PROOF for all motorists that 5-Rib Champions and top -performance are a natural combination. MORE REASON why you should make the change to Champions-·soon!

CHAMPION SPARK PLUG COMPANY, TOLEDO I, OHIO

AMERICA'S FAVORITE

CHAMPION

N EXT TIM E YOU R CAR IS LU BR ICATED-HAVE TH E SPARK PLUGS CH EC KED. IT PAYS!

BUSINESS CLASSIFIED

cc£~~ (O)w W6'~

IO)~~U~~~U~[[I~ RESTORATION - SALES

Frank A. Thomas George S. Fanes 7985 Raytheon Road

San Diego, California 92111 (714) 292 - 7336

730 FRONT ST. SAN DIEGO, CA. 92101

We do mechanical and electrical work

for any Classic Car. tram minor tune· up

to complete restorations.

We specialize in PACKARDS and Cadillacs

and give free estimates.

RUSTY MADSEN, PROP. (714) 2369488

BUSINESS CLASSIFIED

LEMON GROVE PLATING ) 400 CLEVELAND

NATIONAL CITY. CALIFORNIA 92050

To Packards International Members:

Over the years we have established a reputatIon for

quality plating. and a Quality car deserves Quality plating. lawn a 1928 PACKARD Roadster and know the value you place on your parts . If you have a plating need , come in and . . ..

Ask The Man Who Owns One

BILL RHODES President (714) 474 - 4424

WfW.U OF THE

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OFF . PH .83 · ~514

RES PH .48·351'

8500 LA Nt ESA BLVD. PO '!I T I') F F ,e l II 0 It 7'!I

LA MESA , CALIF"ORNIA