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I JUST FINISHED READING JIM Richardson’s column, “What’s Your Pleasure?” in the December 2020 issue of HCC #195 and wanted to add my input to your study. Great story by the way. I’m 55 years old and own a 1954 Packard Pacific with a 359-cu.in. aluminum-head, Carter WCBF four-barrel, L-8 engine —a fairly unique car in my eyes and maybe the last great straight-eight.
A 55-year-old with a ’54 Packard seems kind of an oddity where I live. Packard owners of this era seem to be in their 80s. I’m curious what will happen to the value when aged owners pass away and there is no interest. Anyhoo, peeps my age seem more interested in classic muscle cars and Corvettes. I never win a trophy on the Shore where the shows have lines and lines of Corvettes, Camaros, Tri-Five Chevys, Mustangs, and so on. No one ever seems to care or have knowledge or know the significance of my Packard. High-end concours shows I am sure are much different. My car is a driver, nowhere near perfect, and stuck between a vintage car and a hot rod.
Where it starts and why I like what I like began when I was as a kid. My uncle, Tony Massari, raced a ’56 Chevy sedan delivery called the with Wayne Jesel. My grandfather was on the board of directors at Yoo Hoo and sponsored it. In the ’60s, my father did accounting on the side for Bob Duffy’s Performance Specialties in Red Bank, New Jersey, where the car was based. Jesel is, in 2016, I believe.
