HISTORY OF THE PACKARD

AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AUSTRALIA  - Part 2

 

Then ... ... ... the 1934, 1105, Super Eight 7 Passenger Sedan came along which in itself is another and long story. All 51 cwt, 147½" w.b. of it.  I freely admit on first sight I was startled to say the least, I liked big cars but this was ridiculous and we really couldn't afford two big cars with our rapidly growing boys. She was grotty, covered in layers of grime from several years of sitting in an open field and to me looked most unattractive. I was young and foolish, so you must excuse my stupidity. I didn't realise what a beautiful price of machinery had arrived in our driveway. What? Me drive that with our pretty Chevy sitting there!

 

She wasn't ready for the road for some time and in cleaning her and helping to do little  jobs, and getting her ready, her beautifully proportioned lines and workmanship of quality became more apparent and I was hooked before I knew it. Packard fever had me. Totally and happily. Eventually all was organised and she began to be used., still I hadn't driven her. Finally I got up the never and took her out one day and that was it. I was deeply in love and have never recovered. I think even the pupil in my eye took a hexagon shape.

 

During approximately a year of driving this beauty (and any excuse to hit the starter was good enough), I began to wonder if just possibly there could be other nuts like me, as so many other drivers admired the car and talked about old times when Packard was King of the Road and is gradually dawned that she really was a special aristocratic breed. I knew I loved her, but was it possible that others could feel the same? What if we could get together, get to know each other, nothing grand, just kindering souls with a mutual interest. But how to do it? Australasian Post had a wide Australian city and country circulations, and had a page for reader's letters. Hmmm, not a bad idea. I submitted a letter and photo which was published in the December issue - and it all happened.

 

Peter Sharpe in Queensland was first in with a letter and photo of his 1934 1102 Eight, 7 Passenger Limousine. We became pen pals, he now employs my No.1 son Rod, up there. See what can happen when you buy a Packard! Gradually others came on the scene, many still with us, others gone, as in the way of life. Ron Walker and Family, the Townsends, the Manglesons, etc. and, as Peter was to come to Sydney in 1965, we organized our Inaugural Run. Nine Packards took off for a day at Kiama on the south coast. A day still as fresh in my memory as if it were yesterday. What a beautiful sight. The Townsends didn't make the trip, but a date was set for January to hold a general meeting and form some sort of club, elect a leader and so on,

 

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