RichardQ Loc: Colorado

The beautiful sports cars shown by Lazy Old Coot are a visual delight but I've always found a ride in a low-slung sports car is a pain (for me, anyway). For both a pleasing design and a smooth, comfortable ride my choice was my black 1952 Packard Patrician 400, which I bought used from the Packard dealership in Manhattan (NYC) for a pittance in 1954 when Packard Motorcar Co. was obviously on its way out. It had a straightline 8 and a Briggs Cunningham frame, and seemed to have been a private limo. I had to sadly sell it in 1960 when we moved to Europe.

Jamers Loc: Michigan

:thumbup: Nice car.

Danilo Loc: Las Vegas

Beautiful Packard, Richard! When I was 5 my grandfather had a '54 Chrysler New Yorker. Another beautiful auto. Sitting in that car was like sitting in a real chair, or couch. Very comfortable and smooth.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

RQ, two things:
1, I saw a Packard on the highway today and was quite impressed with it's lines. Probably a 46-48, as it was really pinched down in the back.
2, A friend of mine's dad had a 58 when I was in high school. The car wasn't much, but I'll never forget the little sign it had on the dashboard that read," Do not roll the windows down at speeds in excess of 120 mph, for danger of blowing out the back window"!! I can't imagine that old car could have even gone that fast. :lol:
SS

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

Perhaps it was like the Viagra ads cautioning about four-hour effects? :shock:

1Feathercrest Loc: NEPA

Depending on the year and model with the big block V8 engine, yes it could (!) although it took a little time accelerating from a stop because of the weight. I am an old codger and have owned many of those old boats. Cadillacs, Chryslers, Packards. They were not sports cars or underweight "muscle" cars but TOURING cars, designed for fast highway speed and COMFORT. Unlike the tethered (seat belted, airbag, jellybean styling) crap of today. However, you did pay a price in fuel efficiency.

Gitchigumi Loc: Wake Forest, NC

Yes... My father had one of those. He said it would pass anything on the road, except a gas station! :mrgreen:

RichardQ Loc: Colorado

Thanks for the comment, Danilo. When we returned from Europe I shopped around for another large sedan and bought a new black 1965 Chrysler New Yorker 4-door hardtop with air conditioning. What a beauty! It had some undesirable engineering quirks, however: the 413HP(?) block was crammed in with the air conditioning system so the engine tended to overheat in hot weather; during the 20 years I drove it (220K miles) I had to replace the power window motors three times because the little cylinders were installed in a vertical position so rainwater ran into them and rusted the innards; I also replaced the transmission three times. The end came at a stop sign when I realized flames were coming out between my feet! The power seat had shorted out and ignited the foam padding. I managed to get out but the interior burned out and the car was a loss. I tried a gray 4-door 1986 VW Jetta for awhile, then a silver 1992 4-door Buick Century, and am ending my days with a new tan 4-door 1998 Buick Le Sabre (26K miles to date, but I turned in my keys four years ago so I don't drive it). The Buicks have proven to be comfortable and reliable -- but they lack the character and personality of the 1950s and '60s.

Burned out 1965 Chrysler New Yorker in 1985