"Matt Nichelson" (whoismatt)
03/17/2018 at 13:10 • Filed to: None
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"Matt Nichelson" (whoismatt)
03/17/2018 at 13:10 • Filed to: None | 5
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Was not expecting to see a Packard!!!
winterlegacy, here 'till the end
> Matt Nichelson
03/17/2018 at 13:18 |
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I’ve always wanted to ride in a car like that, even if it’s loud, noisy, and smells of exhaust fumes and oil.
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Matt Nichelson
> winterlegacy, here 'till the end
03/17/2018 at 13:22 |
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That’s all just a part of the experience!
$kaycog
> Matt Nichelson
03/17/2018 at 13:40 |
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That is real class!
fintail
> Matt Nichelson
03/17/2018 at 14:06 |
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I usually don’t approve of this type of resto-mod, but this one looks really well done, and it isn’t a rare bodystyle, so
ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)
> winterlegacy, here 'till the end
03/17/2018 at 14:51 |
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They are actually surprisingly quiet. A straight-8 is very smooth, and Packard was
the
luxury manufacturer, so they weren’t out to make their cars an ordeal to drive.
They did not, however, have modern sealants, so there is indeed an ever present whiff of various organic chained-carbon compounds.
I’ve had the privilege of driving a 1934 Packard V12 Phaeton Sedan on a couple of occastions. The Packard 12 was so smooth you had to feel for heat with your hand and put your head almost on the cowl to be sure the engine was already running to prevent double-starting it. Also the V12 block, just the block; nothing else, no pistons, no heads, weighs 2,000 pounds.
The transmission was not synchronized. So shifting happens in a much more leisurely manner than any modern manual. I think I ground every shift by being too impatient and trying to shift too quickly. The car is certainly in no hurry to change gear.
The steering is un-assisted, and when it re-centers it is best described as violent. I almost broke my arm on one excursion around the block in that car. But once it was moving, the giant wheel and skinny tires meant incredibly tactile feedback, and direct, if not quick steering input.
Since all those cars are ladder-framed with leaf spring suspension, the ride is antiquated by today’s standards. Given the age of that car, it was not unpleasant, however. And with all that weight, seats with springs, and tall tire sidewall, surprisingly comfortable.
Driving in modern traffic is not what one would call ‘fun’. That Packard is the single most expensive car I have ever driven, and I was a white-knuckled mess, worried about everyone else around me while driving it. Drum brakes work, but only just. I don’t recall them being boosted either. So braking required ESP, basically; you have to start stopping before you know you need to.
Still, for a 20-something scrub, studying history in college, getting to drive something like that is quite an experience. I will certainly think of it fondly. Kudos on this person for having the guts to drive their treasure and show it off for others to enjoy as well.