My father-in-law's Packard

My history with the Packard began 35 years ago, when I started dating my wife, or more accurately through my future father-in-law Cees Wagenaar. Cees Wagenaar loved unusual pre-war cars: Hispano Suiza, Delage, Bugatti, Packard, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes, Cadillac. That is how I regularly ended up in his garage where those cars were being worked on. When we married in 1986 we were allowed to do it in his 1934 Packard 12-cylinder. By then the car had been in restoration for some 25 years, and the day before our wedding the final touches were put on. But when my father-in-law passed away 15 years ago, all of the cars were sold off rather thoughtlessly. Ten years ago, when I was looking for a four-seater convertible, I thought back to that Packard. Searching online I came across this car. The owner was Mr Schmaal from Goudswaard. He had expertly restored the Packard over a number of years and dug up its history. Because Mr Schmaal, who shared his 'year of manufacture' with the car (1941), was no longer allowed to drive, I was able to buy it. I will not soon forget picking the Packard up. With too light a tow vehicle and the Packard on the car transporter we entered the Heinenoord tunnel. The trailer started to sway lightly. Fortunately I kept going and it all turned out well. Later Mr Schmaal's brother, who was there at the sale, told me he had wanted to warn me about that tunnel, since it is very deep and trailers had jackknifed in it more than once. In any case, over the past years I have enjoyed driving the Packard. Thanks in part to its distinctive colour, the car is popular for weddings, and we happily oblige, with the single caveat that we have to keep an eye on the coolant temperature. Despite all sorts of attempts to improve it, that remains a worry in warm weather and stop-and-go traffic. Kind regards, Klaas