Feature Car March15 - April 15/01

1924 PACKARD MODEL 136
Owned by Gordon Thomas, Victoria Chapter
Story and Photos by Gordon Thomas
As told to Gary Russell 

This story begins in 1954 when I was looking for a Twenties era car.  I had thought of a Model T as some friends had them and we raced around a field in Sooke.  We thought this was great fun.  I decided I needed to have one too. 

Being apprentices at the time, we did not have much money.  As a result, I eventually gave up.  But then---a guy at work told me I should look for a REAL car.  What was that supposed to be?  A Packard, he said!!  That would never do, I thought, especially to race around a field.  However, he persisted in telling me all about the car, so finally I went over to see it. 

I found it under a bunch of old trees and junk.  It was a 1924 model.  It had a tarp over it but it was not doing much good anymore.  What a disgusting looking mess!  The tires were flat and half buried in mud.  It looked like a piece of junk.               

I decided it would not hurt to look more closely because the car had a nice looking body.  I soon realized that it had promise, the wood was solid, and the body had only surface rust.  I was amazed!  What an attitude change I had.  My original idea of racing around a field was forgotten.  Now, I was thinking about doing something worthwhile. 

The big question was, how much did the owner want for the car.  He talked as if he believed it was the greatest car ever made.  I tried to act disinterested when I asked him what he wanted for this jewel.  He stressed it was really a wonderful machine that he was not going to give away.  Finally he blurted $25.00.  But, I countered – It doesn’t have any headlights.  He said he thought he knew where they were and that they would cost more money.  I thought he was just kidding, but then he said, OK $5.00.  I agreed, and the car was mine, for a total of $30.00!  I wondered if I had paid too much. 

Now came the next biggest question, how was I going to get the car home?  Some friends helped me jack it up and take off the wheels.  We took them to a gas station to put air in the tires.  They seemed to hold air.  We put them back on the car and with a huge amount of effort, got the car out of the bushes and towed it home without incident.  It was a good thing we did it right away because the tires were flat the next morning.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Gordie Thomas is the kid sitting in front of the door on the running board. Sitting on his left is Tom Lowe, who is now a member of South Okanagan Chapter, VCCC  

The restoration took awhile (understatement of the year-GR) but finally in 1996 I got I on the road – just 42 years after I pulled it out of the bushes, and forty five years after it last ran.  I always knew the body was really good but not knowing what the engine or running gear was like always caused some concern.  In the end, the engine was not great but the front end, transmission and rear end were like new.  Only a universal joint had to be replaced.  By chance, this was found in some bushes too. 

The engine was another story.  It required new pistons, rebabbiting and new valves.  This was the most expensive part of the work but it was worth it because now in runs just like new.  I have often been asked how fast the car will go, but I do not really know.  I have done sixty mph once, but that seemed too fast.  I usually run between 40 and 50mph.  One always needs to be able to stop and the brakes do not stop like cars with cast iron drums.  On the plus side, it has four-wheel brakes.  The Packard model 136 was the first year of the straight eight engine and four-wheel brakes. 

The car has a very interesting history.  It was originally sold in Paris, France to “Archille Edward Parrilla” c/o Celistins, 9 rue Fromentin, Paris.  This is engraved on a brass plate on the left doorsill.  It was also shown in the Paris auto exhibition of 1925.  Based on the serial number, it was built in late1924 so I have assumed it took a month or so to get to Paris.  Packard did not build by year model in those days.  The series 136 was built from late ’23 through to the end of ’25.  3,507 in total were built, 2,507 in 1924, but I do not have a breakdown of the individual body styles.

Ned Hanning, a member of the Victoria Chapter of the Vintage Car Club of Canada, knew the car in Calgary in the early 1930’s.  The granddaughter of the owner at that time, a Mr. Frank Moodie, still lives in the original family home in Calgary.  She came to see the car in 1998 and my wife and I visited their home in 1999.

THE BEGINNING