My next project? 1921 Packard Coupe

4 minute(s) of a 548 minute read

Hi all

I have just purchased most of the material needed to make a start on constructing the seat frames early next week. Before that I have to give the Lagonda Rapier a service and clean in preparation for Sunday mornings VSCC Frost-bite Run. For those scratching their heads right now, here in the southern states of Australia it is now mid winter and a 100 mile run into the near-by hills in an open 1934 sports car can definitely be described as a Frost-bite run.

7-9-2011

Would you believe it? 

After searching for the missing plug that goes into the side of the timing chain case for about six weeks including a giant clean-out. I walked back into the garage this afternoon after stopping for lunch. There right in the center of an otherwise empty floor was the missing plug. How did it get there? It certainly was not there when I stopped work. I had not even been working on the Packard, I had given the Lagonda a chassis grease, checked the levels in the sump and gearbox and adjusted the front brakes. 

The only (totally illogical) explanation is that my friendly resident garage poltergeist had decided that it was time to quit that trick. Problem is what stunt will he/she try next?

7-10-2011

Well here we are on Sunday Evening Australian Time. As mentioned we had an early start this morning for the VSCC Frost-bite run. While it did not snow as it has on previous such runs, we had 161 miles of gale force winds, rain and heavy mist. After lunch we had had enough of being Spartans decided to put the top up. It really did not matter as with the weather conditions there was precious little scenery that we could see. The Lagonda Rapier went as we have come to expect, sitting on a very comfortable 60 mph, for most of the journey home. Back to the Packard tomorrow, start of another week. 

Below is a photograph of some of the participating cars lined up prior to setting off for an entertaining days motoring. Reading from left to right;

1929 Lancia Lambda Saloon, 1926 Vauxhall 30/98, 1953 Riley 1.5 litre, 1924 Vauxhall 23/60, 1928 Ford Model A, 1927 Morris Cowley, 1934 Lagonda Rapier.

7-16-2011

As I have said previously I am a much more proficient welder than a carpenter.

That being so I have almost completed the first seat frame. Amazingly this one seat has eaten up almost 8 meters (26 ft) of steel tube 3/4 inch for the base and 1/2 inch for the backrest. To fit in with the floor plan of the body the seat-bases taper quite sharply towards the front. Rather than the little jump seat next to the driver my car will have two matching fully upholstered front seats. The seat backs will fold forward to allow access into the rear. At least they will not squeak or rattle, will stay together and will weigh a whole lot less than a comparative timber framed seat.

Yes, you will only be able to fold the seat back forward when the door is open.

The photograph below shows similar design seats in a Dodge Four Speedster I built quite some years ago.