My next project? 1921 Packard Coupe

8 minute(s) of a 548 minute read

It has probably escaped the notice of those in the northern hemisphere that to-day is officially the last day of winter. This being so please excuse the lack of the sunshine needed to make these the perfect photographs. This is simply a progress report at the end of the second year of my ownership of the Packard. The mechanical work is virtually complete as is the body. Trim is progressing slowly although I hope to have the seats ready to install in two or three weeks time. The Top (hood in Aussie-speak) will not be done until my trimmer returns from holiday in late November. I still have to make the side screen frames. There are a few small detail jobs to be completed such as soldering the ends onto the main battery leads and installing globes in all the lights. I still have to find a suitable (matching) right hand tail lamp. I am sticking to my policy of not attempting to start the engine until I can sit in and drive the car.

8-31-2012

On the subject of Winter; here in Melbourne in the south east corner of Australia it sometimes gets down as low as +5 or 6 C overnight. But then some days it does get up to around 35 C in Summer. 

Can't think why anyone would want to live anywhere but in "the Worlds most liveable city". Great climate, delightful parks, wonderful restaurants, friendly people I could go on but I am sure that you get the picture.

Now, back to work you people!

9-1-2012

Back to work indeed. 

I have just returned from visiting Tony (the trimmer) and despite being Saturday morning he is hard at work upholstering the two front seats. With luck he should have them finished some time early next week.

9-2-2012

On another forum I have asked a question. I will ask the same here. Every "period" photograph I have seen, showing the front of a 1922-3 Single Six show the radiator unadorned, yet almost every "restored" car of the same years has a Packard script on the radiator. There is no evidence that my car ever had one and I do not intend to fit one. Which is correct?

9-3-2012

Thank you both 'B' and David McC. 

First thing is to get the Packard finished and running. This came a tiny step closer today. I spent half an hour soldering the ends on the battery cables and fitting the ones from the battery to the starter switch and from the switch to the starter motor. David, if you could let me have a tracing of your larger name plate it could come in handy when I finally get around to doing the spare wheel cover but first I have to find a spare 600 x 23 inch tyre. I have been offered a usable 500 x 23 but all the other tyres are 600. Eventually I may have to replace these. What is the correct size on 23 inch disc wheels?

9-7-2012

Hello again

I have just made a quick trip out to check on the seat progress.

I will let you form your own opinions but I cannot wait to get them home and set up in the car.

9-11-2012

I now have the seats at home and after a couple of minor adjustments they are trial fitted in the car. I still have to glue the carpet trim around the bases and complete one or two other minor tasks and there will be another box with a tick. There is always a small shadow of doubt when making seats from scratch, so I am really pleased with the result.

9-16-2012

Hi All

No Packard activity over the last two or three days. We have been away in the 1934 Lagonda Rapier over Saturday & Sunday. 400 Very competitive road miles mainly through narrow back roads through the hill country north west of Melbourne with the over night stop at Ararat.

Just a few photographs from the weekend

9-18-2012

Hi-ya-all, 

Sorry about that minor diversion. Back to work on the Packard again, I have decided that the garden gnomes really need a couple of cushions to sit on. Having bought the required piece of heavy weight upholstery velour, naturally of an appropriate beige colour, I am now busy remembering how to make cushions with piped edges.Using Helen's domestic Singer sewing machine, four thickness of this cloth only just squeeze under the foot! I only hope that the gnomes appreciate all the effort I am putting in on their behalf. Photographs to come on completion of the task.

9-20-2012

At last, back to work! I have had a very productive day designing, fabricating and installing the front seat anchors. While perhaps not as convenient as modern seat runners, my anchors give infinite seat adjustment. to achieve this involves loosening two 5/16 UNF nuts (1/2 AF spanner) and retightening them once the desired seating position is reached. This may be further simplified if I can locate some 5/16 UNF wing nuts. Preferably either brass or stainless.

9-21-2012

As promised earlier attached are two photographs of the rear parcel shelf/garden gnome seat cushions. To give you some idea of size, the shelf (and cushions) is 12 inches from front to rear. and the full width of the rear compartment. The off-cut material (heavy duty upholstery velour)has now been sewn up into wind lacing for the door opening. I now have to wait patiently until November 1st when Tony will have returned from European holiday and will complete the rest of the interior trim, the top and side screens.

9-22-2012

More simply messing around than work today, after all it is Saturday afternoon here in Aust. I will have difficulty waiting until November to see it in the actual material rather than newspaper. As the cutting says Can you keep a secret?.

9-23-2012

Back to basics today, having unearthed the original interior light switch in a box of small obscure parts I have spent this afternoon taking it apart, cleaning the contacts & cut the rectangular hole in the trim panel beside the passenger door, next job will be to find a suitable interior lamp and run the wires. Time flies when you are having fun!

9-24-2012

Continuing on from yesterday running the wires has become something else. This has involved discovering a new Yoga position kneeling inside the minuscule luggage trunk in order to access the junction box that also feeds the interior light in the trunk. The other trick is getting out again. More of the same fun tomorrow. You do not have to be mad but it sure helps!