After the tour, we rendezvoused with local friends and visited 2 smaller restoration shops, one having a 37-120 Conv. Coupe that has been resurrected from fire damage, and another where a 38 Super 8 formal sedan lay eviscerated down to its bare metal skin. We enjoyed a home cooked Italian meal with the owner of a 37 Packard, concluding with homemade limonchello. Thereafter, having been provided the family recipe for same, we picked fresh lemons from the tree in the yard. Whoever said when life gives you lemons, make lemonade never sampled homemade limonchello.
Friday, January 28, 2011 began with an appointment for a private tour of the William Lyon collection. Mere words cannot convey the impression of having 10 Duesenbergs in an equally impressive building, so I will remark of the Darrin, Lebaron, Dietrich, Derham and Rollson Packards also in the Collection. The blue 34 Lebaron roadster, 745 factory speedster, golden 40 180 Darrin, 39 V12 Derham Phaeton, 39 V12 armored Presidential parade car, 35 Dietrich phaeton, etc. etc. etc. Eric appeared to prefer the Darrin, but really – how can one choose? Most of the 50 or so cars are of the classic era, however, one more modern car absolutely stunned my automotive senses – a 1964 Alfa Romeo TZ-2 factory competition racecar. The TZ-2 at first glance looks like a 8/10 scale Ferrari GTO. Fantastic. Never seen one before, and probably never will again. Well, maybe next year...
We took the curator (full time for 2 employees) to lunch, then made a few quick parts hunting stops (Egge Machine, Best Gaskets) before cruising over to Custom Auto Service which specializes in Packards. The employees were very busy preparing cars for the show on Saturday – a 34 Super 8 phaeton still had its cylinder head off, while waxes and polishes were being applied to the rest of the pack. At one point we found ourselves (lost) in the back rooms of parts – simply an unbelievable cache. Eventually, Eric grabbed a ride in a 41 Lebaron Limo back to the hotel, where cars and trailers had begun to assemble for the show on Saturday. Did I mention the weather was mid-seventies and clear skies?
Saturday, January 29, 2011 Show Day – Perfect weather for a Caribbean themed show. At least 15 Caribbeans, albeit no 55. Tops down, windows open and hoods up. About 60 show prepared Packards. Another day of Packards - Lebarons, Darrins, Dietrichs, Hercules, Cantrell and even a Brewster. So overwhelming was the show, Eric (appropriately wearing his Ark-La-Tex Packards T-shirt) and I retreated to Seal Beach for couple hours to decompress. Too many Packards, too little time. We went to dinner that evening with a dozen friends including Kevin Waltman of Packardinfo.com fame.
Sunday, January 30, 2011 – the swap meet begins in the pre-dawn darkness. The offerings vary, and while 1937 parts were a bit thin, I did manage to pick out a few choice items for my collection, the most interesting being a NOS set (well almost a set, only 15) of 1931 thru 1939 roller tipped rocker arms for the early 8 cylinder engines. Even Johnny Toce benefitted, now having a Packard embroidered jacket for her wardrobe. By mid-morning, the weather turned cloudy, and when a light drizzle started at 11am, it marked the end of our attendance, and we headed back to the airport for flights home.
Respectfully Submitted,
Eric Toce and David Flack.
PS – on behalf of the Club, we made several invitations to friends for the Cajun Cruise, however we had no date to provide...
No comments:
Post a Comment