I've been away from TJJ for a couple months. I went to work at another place...a restoration shop in Redford, MI. To say I'm back has double meaning. I spent most of my career restoring heavy American classics as I've stated before. It's what I do best, it's most likely my "calling" if you will, but I guess I just love these things. It was a major step up for me in many ways and I'm pretty damned happy. So today I got to end my day with a nice drive in this: the view from behind the wheel: the engine room: About 6 weeks ago I drove this one: another engine shot: I restored this car in 94 and it still scored 100pts in competition on July 14th. And yes they get used, why have em if not. I also drove this and it was just as exciting although totally different as I'm sure many of you can attest: A "B" model complete with that sexy lil friction shock from the firewall to the motor. I hope you enjoy the pics. The Duesy is an incredible car to drive. The Packard is like fine champaign and smooth as silk. The Ford was just an absolute pleasure. I'm glad to be back...I missed this place and thought a pic share would be a good way to return.
Some gorgeous rides. I ASSume that the Duesy does not belong to Jay Leno right? Absolutely beautiful rides I drooled over many of the pics in your photo bucket album..
When I see a beautiful Packard like that, it makes me sad we lost them in the '50's. They were drop-dead gorgeous until the early '50's, built superbly, too. Thanks for the pics!
I was wondering why we hadn't heard from you for awhile. I can understand your passion for the classics. I've never been involved with owning or restoring any of the classic marques but it's a sense of reverence or awe (or both) I feel just being in thier presence. A feeling I also share about the really great hot rods from our past. That feeling is entirely void when I stand near a modern day "rat rod"with it's total irreverence to basic engineering and stying principles. I'm hoping the "look at me" mentality of this era is replaced by a more sane build envelope before something tragic happens that sets us back to the image that's taken years to overcome in the minds of the general public. Frank
Jocko, good to see you posting again. How's the truck? Getting anywhere? Me neither! Looks like you've been having some fun for a change.
Choice!!!! Must of been fun driving them, after the restoration's We were at a guys place, he had a lot of Packard's & Cadillac's etc. 30's vintage cars, V12's & V16's The one i liked was a 1934 Packard Three Window Coupe body by Darrin
I had a mind spin at the Netthercutt back in June, the constant question was "What are these things like to drive? They're awesome to look at. The Duesenburg roadster there was massive, but the two person passenger space was A Model like in size. So much car, so little space?
Thanks for the nice comments. These 3 are local cars owned by guys that don't get what our passion entails. In my mind at least these things were part of the foundation that gave rise to hotrodding. Gary Cooper had the Duesy factory retro-fit the new blower to his Tourster back in the day so he could race Groucho's 540K Mercedes. Cooper won. The engine in that car is amazing. The RPM belies the actual speed you're going. Fitted with an exhaust cutout (most every Duesy has that BTW as OEM equipment), DOHC 4 valve, a timing system to remind the driver of service times by lights on the IP, power hydraulic brakes, and automatic chassis lube system, they were marketed as the world's finest motorcar. I must concur. The Packard...every square inch is attn to detail. The focus was comfort, value, longevity, and engineering. They used the slogan, "Ask the man who owns one" and again, I concur. This one is a Model 1107 Packard 12 Coupe Roadster. In proper tune you can balance a nickle on edge on the intake manifold WHILE IT'S RUNNING. And yes, that's one of my final tests after I've dialed it in...it works. Smooth velvet-like power, driver adjustable ride control for firm, medium, or soft ride from a lever below the IP, driver adjustable power brakes for varying road conditions, roller bearings on the kingpins for ease of steering (both cars have that), and one of the nicest instrument layouts you can imagine. Shit, the Duesy even has an altimeter in the dash to aid in tune-up settings! Again, thanks for the kind words and I'm glad you enjoyed the pics. Theres many more to follow. We've got several in process. A 60 Impala conv, a 33 Packard conv victoria, another 34 roadster (8cyl), a 32 Reo Royale Cabriolet, a 52 Chevy 2dr sedan, just completed the top on a Pierce Arrow 12 roadster, and getting started on a 54 Eldorado conv top re-do. I'll be glad to post pics as we go. I think you'll enjoy it. Dan...no. Funny you bring it up though, I'm back on it this weekend. At least, that's in my plans.
What happend to that photbucke link? There were some nice pics in there as well. I liked the work on that scoop, killer paint for sure. I did some work on a totallyunrestored 1941 Packard convertible with my dad when I was a teen. I will have to scan the old pics of it. The Gent brought it to my dad te get it running again, and make the top, windows etc operational again. He did the majority of the work, I got the grunt clean up on that ride, It was really nice for being stored so long with no upkeep whatsoever. If I recall it was a super 8 convertible. I think I loved that car as much as he did, It was his all time favorite car to work on and drive, maynt imes he tried to buy it, but the owner at that time would not sell. I have tried to find the owner in the past, but seems he has passed on, and noone knows what happened to the ol Packard. He rebuilt the engine, transmission, rearend etc on another Packard that I don't recall the year or model of it, I will see if there are pics left of it as well. It was owned by Sam Susser, who was the at the time, the big dog of susser Petrolium(they were and still are the biggest independant convenience store operation here) here in Corpus Christi. It was mechanically sound nd then Mr. Susser had it taken to a body shop and repainted. From what I heard, when Mr. Susser passed on,one of his sons got it. I have never seen it on the streets or at any shows here though. It was another nice ride, buttt that super 8 was far superior in my book Please share any other pics you have, I sure miss working on those things, along with all the other restorations we worked on..
5window...I switched it to pics to make it easier, thought it better than clicking a link. I have pics from hell of Packards as I've worked on em since my teens. I credit that for the "eyes" I have when it comes to building things or just looking at stuff. The scoop was for a friends Impala drag racer. I'm glad you like it. Here a couple of that for everyone else: a close up: on the car: This has to be what flames had to come to. I know it's not traditional but... Like I said above, I'll be sharing images as time goes on.
I have a way out of spec con rod out of Deusenberg, it'll be a column drop in something cool someday... Can't think af a bettr piece to build a car around.
Hey, 4t6, maybe you could post a pic of that for the rest to see? As far as con rods go those are a work of art.
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