1934 Super Eight 1103 Saloon

Car information

1934 Packard super 8 model 1103, which is an eleven series model, body style 3

Story by Jean-Luc Packard.

Let me introduce myself. My name is Jean-luc Packard and I am a 1934 Packard super 8 model 1103, which is an eleven series model, body style 3.

I was imported into the UK in 2008 from Rhode Island, USA by Terry and Evie Cantelo. When I arrived in Enfield North London I was placed in a big garage. Terry being very fussy gave me a good looking over and found some things wrong with me (but what did he expect at the age of 74). The main faults were a jammed hand brake and my upholstery (Bedford Cord) had been attacked by moths in odd places.

Before I was allowed out on the road I had to get my registration documents from the D.O.T so a trip was arranged for me to visit their local test centre. I was given a very strict examination which I passed so it was a good job that Terry fixed my hand brake.

I was then given my name by Evelyn which she took from the Star trek series with Captain Jean-Luc Picard’s name amended to Jean-Luc-Packard,

After all this I was then insured to drive on the road

Then I was sent off to Norwich to have all my seats recovered in the correct material by a professional company who did an excellent job for me. The material although manufactured in the UK could not be sold in small quantities to a UK citizen so we had to buy in from the states from a guy who bought vast amounts in the different styles.

When I arrived in the UK I had the wrong trunk, so, in 2012 Terry and Evelyn took a holiday to Hershey USA which must be the biggest swap meet in the world where they picked up the correct 34 Packard trunk

Every year during the summer months I was taken to lots of car shows and won a few prizes along the way but my favourite show has always been the Enfield Pageant of Motoring where Ross and Lesley Halter always came to visit and ride in me to the show.

My biggest adventure was in 2013 where I attended the Belgian national Packard rally. There we met lots of new friends from all over the world and I had lots of Packard’s to talk to. With all the excitement, I was not very well and suffered from overheating and incontinence but I still managed to do the whole trip apart from the journey home on the UK side of the Channel, where I had to be brought home on an AA breakdown flatbed.

When we got home Terry and Ross investigated the problem and found my radiator totally shot. Ross managed to find a good radiator repair shop where he lived in Bristol and since then I have not suffered any more overheating.

Everywhere I go I seem to cause great interest with people who want to stop and take pictures of me and ask Terry lots of questions about me, such as, who were Packard and what connection I had with the Hewlett Packard company, but we do enjoy the attention.

I have had a few minor operations on the way such a new water pump seal and suspension bushes and pins but these were fixed by Terry and Ross. My shock absorbers were rebuilt by a company in the states called Apple hydraulics.

Then the Halters decided to return back to Oz and as I was always going to be Ross’ inheritance Terry and Evie passed my ownership on to Ross so that I could go to Oz with him.

I have no info on my previous owners in the states although Terry did try to trace them.

So, I arrived in Brisbane in May 2020 after my world cruise. Ross drove me from Brisbane to my new home in Cooloola Cove which I managed ok and then, once home my amp meter decided to fail so I am waiting for that to come back from the repair shop and then I am off! Time for new adventures in Australia.