1947 Packard Clipper Touring

Historical note regarding the '47 Packard from the previous owner:

The previous owner acquired the car from his father-in-law, who lived in Pierre, SD. He bought it from the original owner in about 1965. My father-in-law was a bit eccentric. He drove the car for about 2 weeks and then decided that \"this car is really good\" and thought the seller would come back with the money he had been paid and want the car back.

The car was then parked in his backyard where it set for 13 years without being touched. He had people ask if he wanted to sell it but always said he wasn't interested in selling. When I married his daughter and saw he car I asked if he wanted to sell it, and since I was his son-in-law, he said he would sell it to me for he had paid for it.

We were living in Anaheim, CA at this time and while back in SD visiting, decided to take the car back with us on our return home. To start the car I only had to replace the gasoline, which had turned to \"paint thinner\" , put in a new battery, and prime the carburetor. After setting outside for 13 years in the South Dakota winters, it started right up!

To prepare the Packard for the trip to CA, I replace the water pump, installed an electric fuel pump, put on new tires and drove to California without a problem. This was in August and approaching Las Vegas from the east there is a fair grade to go up. I passed numerous cars that had overheated and had to pull off to the side of the highway to cool off. The Packard temperature never got off normal.

The trip of 1600 miles was made without a problem.

From 1978 to 1981 I rebuilt most of the mechanical parts. I then was transferred to Europe and spent 8 years in Brussels, Belgium. The car was put in indoor storage during this time. More restoration work was again done after we returned home. When I retired we moved to New Mexico and the was put in a carrier for the move. I again did more restoration work. We then moved here to Tennessee and the was again transported here by carrier service.