Posted on 09/18/2012 6:20:58 AM PDT by JoeProBono
CANTON, Ohio, - A 102-year-old woman who brought her 1930 Packard 740 Roadster to an Ohio car show said she still changes her own oil and spark plugs.
Margaret Dunning of Plymouth, Mich., said at the 18th annual Glenmoor Gathering of Significant Automobiles at Glenmoor Country Club in Canton the car was in rough shape when she bought it in 1949 but it has since been restored with four upholstery jobs and 22 coats of hand-rubbed lacquer, the Akron (Ohio) Beacon Journal reported Monday.
Dunning said she still often finds herself crawling under the car, which was the first vehicle to ever receive a 100-point score by the Classic Car Club of America, with a funnel and an oil pan.
"I love the old cars," she said. "I love the smell of gasoline. It runs in my veins."
"The lines of a Packard car are very artistic as far as I'm concerned. My family drove Packards, and I was very proud of the fact. I guess I got indoctrinated," she said.
Dunning, who has been driving since she was 8 years old and was about 20 when her Packard rolled off the assembly line, said motoring in her everyday car, a 2003 Cadillac, sometimes gets her in trouble for speeding.
"I have lead in my feet," she quipped. "It disturbs the policemen very badly, but it doesn't bother me at all."
I saw a story about Dunning last year. When asked if she had lived in Plymouth her whole life she said “Not yet” LOL
My dad went to work for Packard after WW II.. My first real recollection of a car.I was 6.. was when he brought home a new 1953 Packard Caribbean Coupe..The hood ornament was gorgeous..
Packard license built the v-12 Merlin engine during WWII. Too bad they went out of business.
She just moved out of her home last year, I think. It’s a pretty charming salt box style home on the road into Plymouth just about a mile from me. Our local library is named after her family, due to their part in helping to establish it.
1953 Packard Caribbean Coupe
1953 Packard Cavalier sedan hood ornament
I assume the three photos in post #1 are all of the same car, so what is that red thing behind the car in the third photo?
The story I read last year said her father was friends with Henry Ford and he often had dinner at their house.
Is this the 102 year old woman Obama said is “too old” and he would just give her a pain pill to die? Get her in a Romney commercial.
Are you talking about the rumble seat?
It's called a rumble seat. Extra seating in the trunk, neat concept, huh?
"Rumble Seat". A 1930's jump seat for when you needed more passenger seating area. You have to remember, this car was built before it became illegal to take risks and have fun.
My dad’s last car was a 1955 red and white Packard Clipper.
59 seconds. I owe you a Coke.
“Packard. Ask the 102-year-old woman who owns one.”
I wish they made cars that looked like this, again.
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