{"id":8754,"date":"2016-06-11T19:06:19","date_gmt":"2016-06-11T23:06:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/collegeresearchsharing.com\/?page_id=8754"},"modified":"2026-05-26T21:39:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T01:39:14","slug":"1929-packard-roadster-640","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/collegeresearchsharing.com\/?page_id=8754","title":{"rendered":"1929 Packard Roadster 640 & 1935 Lincoln"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

YouTube videos (2):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/BhGCKBFc_jg<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The low-mileage Walker ’29 Packard Roadster 640 Custom in the family for 65 years was updated a bit and sold by Dragone’s Classic Motorcars, Orange, CT in January 2022, after I drove it for 25 years. After a showing on Mecum<\/a> it was purchased on April 17, 2024 by a new owner on”Bring a Trailer<\/a>” and is in a great collection in Maine (sold again in 2024). Many photos in the first video are of the cars in the Dragone showroom at that time. Also see a linkin the first video to myself driving the car prior to the sale, for the last time https:\/\/youtu.be\/bVbUXxSCwVc<\/a> An additional family favorite was recently restored and sold in Phoenix; my late father’s 1935 Lincoln V-12. (Link here but scroll down also) https:\/\/classicpromenade.com\/for-sale…<\/a> The young man helping his father polish the car is yours truly!<\/p>\n\n\n

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Shown above at Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington, CT for a special All-Packard show to benefit the Museum. Shown below in Avon, CT where the family lived for six generations. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n

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It probably has less than 50,000 miles, and won a number of top trophies in Connecticut, including the Klingberg Family Centers Lou Biondi Concours, at the Connecticut Junior Republic (now CJR) via the Litchfield Hills Historical Auto Club (Top 10), and the Dream Ride at the Farmington Polo Grounds (First Prize in Class). It was featured at \u00a0a Great Gatsby party in New Canaan, and a Roaring ’20s benefit for CJR at the Torrington Country Club.\u00a0 It is the same model as chosen by Time-Life books (’69) in This Fabulous Century,<\/em> to represent the Roaring ’20s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It had been acquired around 1955 by “Charlie Walker” a sales engineer for Tel-Rad Inc. Hartford, CT (communications systems) and car collector.\u00a0\u00a0 Prior ownership is unknown (though it was originally sold in Washington State). I did work on it, and It got all new paint and top and was sold by Dragone’s to a Napa, California buyer. It has been described as one of the last of the true open cars.\u00a0 Production 9,801. Side valves, straight 8, 384.8 ci, 105 bhp. Wheelbase 140\u201d. Three gears + reverse (straight gears). Crankshaft in 9 main bearings. Bore & stroke 3 \u00bd x 5. Max speed 85 mph. Weight 4,285 lbs. Sold new for more than $3,175. Here is a “Pick of the Day” story <\/a>that helped to sell the Packard to the Napa owner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shown below at a benefit for Sam Collins Day, historic downtown Collinsville, CT, where my grandfather Fred Hutchins, an honored WWI vet, used to work for the railroad and Robotham Co. He was a farmer on Huckleberry Hill Rd, and featured in Fran Mackie’s history of Avon for his generosity to others in the town. Below that with balloons winning the Lou Biondi trophy at the Klingberg Family Centers Concours.<\/a> Mr. Biondi was an icon in Connecticut auto history and a friend of Charlie.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Goddess of Speed below, cast in stainless as a better than new repro by the late Don Sommer when he first \u00a0started his castings using the lost wax process, in the ’60s (the American Arrow company).<\/p>\n\n\n

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In resto above, for five months, winter 2019, including some (temporary) new paint. New wiring, front brake control arm part, brake work, Rodtiques LED headlights, Brakelighter LED brakelight. Then won first prize in class at Dream Ride, Farmington CT 2019. Top 10 out of 420 cars at the benefit show for the CT Junior Republic<\/a>, Litchfield, CT, 2019. (Note small door in the side of the car, used for one’s golf clubs!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Cigar lighter and all gauges functional except gas gauge (later fixed by Dragone). Clock rebuilt in 2019 by Standish Clock, West Hartford, CT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Top bows were refinished by Charlie Walker in the ’60s. (Dragone’s in 2021 did a little very specialized woodwork on the bows, splicing in some wood.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Just repainted by myself March 2021. Had been painted by myself 25 years before. Horn recently made operational by mechanic Joe Latina , president of the Valley Collector Car Club, Simsbury. Features modern spin-on oil filter inside Burr Ripley designed canister. Uses modern detergent 20-50 oil. Starter rebuilt by Hartford Battery and Electric when it was in business. Top right oil tank for Bijur oil system, a network of copper tubing throughout the car so it can be lubricated with the pull of a lever under the dash while driving down the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Manifold was redone by Prairie Auto Porcelain, and solved a vapor lock problem. Carburetor is a rare Packard updraft version, and not a Detroit Lubricator. Generator rebuilt by Al’s Auto Electric, Canton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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See the bright LED Brakelighter under the step plate. This and the Rodtiques stainless LED headlights (fog lights) use so little amperage that at night the battery is not drawn down. Runs with these and cowl lights, and main lights aren’t needed (though they are perfect, all original silvering.) Car is original six volts, positive ground. High speed rear axle gears. Never in an accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This rendering from the ’29 sales portfolio shows the car with rear-mounted spare, fairly unusual. Adds to clean look and streamlining, and makes this much easier to work on the engine!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It appears that Charlie Walker might have been influenced by this image in the original Packard sales portfolio, when choosing the light blue color.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

When I was quite young in addition to the ’29 Packard Roadster my father’s favorite car was arguably the 1935 Lincoln K V-12. It recently got a concours level resto, except for the entire original which was so perfectly original. Add to the “I wish I kept that car” list that we all have! But I could only maintain one car… A bargain at $70,000 with all that work… Probably a lot of fun to restore as already so perfect…. with such low mileage. Some good times for sister Anita and I… parking once in front of Gillette Castle…the Walker history is off a bit tho… It was just parked with the cracked head sometime in the1960s… I never drove it. — It has overdrive so if you want to save gas you disconnect the engine from the drive train with a lever under the dash and just coast up and down big hills! Of course then you’re relying totally on mechanical brakes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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1935 Lincoln Model K Two Window Sedan<\/a><\/blockquote>