1939 Six 110 1700 Richards

Car information

1939 Packard 1700 Richards Body RHD. Though possibly inaccurate, I recount my father’s knowledge of the car’s history to the best of my recollection. It was purchased new by two sisters living in South Australia, they subsequently moved to Maitland, NSW, and had the car maintained for many years by a local mechanic. The sisters never married and had no other family. Knowing the mechanics fondness for the Packard, the car was eventually left to him.

This mechanic could have been the Uncle of, or sold the car to the Uncle (possibly a plumber) of Paul McKenna. Paul McKenna was an automotive mechanic living in Newcastle, NSW; he took over ownership of the car from his Uncle and used the Packard as a wedding hire car for some years, but as time went by, decided against the activity noting the wear and tear it sustained as reason enough.

My father John Mackey (aged 78) purchased the Packard from Paul McKenna in 2003. Dad lived in the Sydney suburb of Killara and he travelled by train to Newcastle to inspect the Packard, I guess with a strong feeling he would be returning home with it as that’s just what happened. Paul McKenna kindly offered to drive the car to Sydney with dad, who at 78 may have struggled a tad being his first drive. Paul relayed knowledge of the cars history to dad over dinner at Killara after which Paul returned to Newcastle by train.

During my father’s ownership, we attended various Packard runs, car shows and Christmas gatherings, with the family’s most memorable trip being the Mittagong Rally in 2009. When my son Dylan was old enough to drive, we actually did not have any other manual cars at the time and so he learnt on his Grandpa’s Packard. Turning up to club runs with the L and P plates was a rather humorous sight for all.

I inherited the Packard from dad when he passed away in 2018. An overdrive unit awaits installation following procurement of all the ancillary equipment, in the meantime we continue with routine maintenance and general tinkering.