See all the other contributors to James' Weekend Reflections
samedi 30 juin 2012
vendredi 29 juin 2012
Le vendredi «Sky Watch»
The north end of Angel Island and parts of the Marin County towns of Sausalito and Tiburon seen one recent morning from le balcon Chez la Vache. The white boat is one of the Larkspur ferries that carry passengers between the Marin County town of Larkspur and San Francisco. The Small boat to the right is a owned by a hermit scofflaw who has found the exact spot in the bay where the San Francisco, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda County lines meet. He dropped anchor there, lives there, and gets around ordinances about not having a permit to anchor for more than 48 hours because the ebb and flow of the tide move the boat around the spot at which he is anchored. Thus on any given day, he can be in all of the counties over which he is anchored.
See the Sky Watch Friday entries from around the globe!
jeudi 28 juin 2012
CONFUSED!
In California?
In a Prius?
MERCY!
Photo taken by «Louis» on his iPhone in the Vachemobile on the way to Stanford University Hospital and Clinics. Maybe this Texan was on his way to the psych ward. That said, it IS the one and only Prius in California without an Øbama sticker on it!
mercredi 27 juin 2012
Mercredi sans mots
See all the other participants in Wordless Wednesday
mardi 26 juin 2012
Mardi Rouge
(a.k.a. Red Car Day at Chez la Vache!)
Packard Caribbeans
1956 Packard Caribbean hardtop, one of only 263 built.
Today we conclude our series on the evolution of the fabulous Packard Caribbeans with the 1956 models, the last year the Caribbeans were built, and the last year for real Packards. There were cars produced in 1957 and 1958 that wore the Packard name, but they were nothing more than "badge engineered" Studebaker Presidents, built in the Studebaker plant in South Bend, Indiana after the Packard plant in Detroit was closed on this very day - 26 June - in 1956.
The closure of Packard was a sad end to one of the most illustrious names in the automobile industry. In previous posts, we've seen the two threads that entwined to bring about the end of Packard. One thread of the demise of Packard was spun in the Great Depression when Packard brought George Christopher on to introduce the 120 series, a lower priced Packard that saved the company in those dark years. Christopher, who had come to Packard from GM's Buick Division, was a production genius and did a stellar job with the 120 and its variants. By the 1940s, Christopher had become president of the company. He was determined to take Packard down market and become a volume-oriented middle price car maker. In doing so, he handed Cadillac the luxury car business on a silver platter and in doing so set the stage for Packard's demise.
The other thread that entwined with the first one to bring about the end of Packard is the failure of Packard - and Studebaker - through no fault of their own to become part of American Motors as planned. At the end of World War II, Nash president George Mason correctly saw that there would be a huge pent-up demand for cars once civilian production resumed, then there would be a shake-out and many of the independent automakers would close. Mason determined to be a survivor. He proposed to form the fourth full-line automaker after GM, Chrysler and Ford. He would follow the Alfred Sloan model for GM by offering a low-price line, a lower middle-price line, an upper middle-price line and a luxury line. Thus Studebaker, Nash, Hudson and Packard would merge to form the new American Motors.
It almost happened. Mason bought Hudson and influenced Packard's decision to bring James Nance on a president after a palace coup forced Christopher out and placed Hugh Ferry as Packard's interim president. Nance signed on to the merger plan and bought Studebaker. Nance and Mason worked out a component sharing plan. Nance built a new plant in Utica, Michigan to produce V8 engines and automatic transmissions for Packard and also for Nash and Hudson. Before the merger could be completed, Mason - who chain smoked cigars - caught pneumonia and died. Mason's successor, George Romney, father of Mitt Romney, did not like Nance and refused to complete the merger and cancelled the component sharing plan.
Things really fell apart fast for Packard after that. The purchase of Studebaker was not properly vetted. Studebaker's costs - due in large part to the most generous wages in the industry - were out of control, especially as Studebaker's volume was plunging. One of the rationales for building the new Packard engine and transmission plant in Utica was a defense contract to build jet engines for the Air Force. U.S. President Eisenhower's Secretary of Defense, Charles "Engine Charlie" Wilson, who had come from GM, re-wrote Pentagon procurement rules to favor - guess who - GM, and both Packard and Studebaker lost their defense contracts. Nance was counting on the cash flow from those defense contracts to fund the tooling for the planned all-new 1957 Packard and Studebaker lines. After losing the defense contracts, Nance couldn't get the banks and insurance companies to fund the tooling for the planned '57s. A poorly-executed business analysis by the Ernst & Ernst business consulting firm combined with an offer from aircraft maker Curtiss-Wright led to the closure of Packard in Detroit and hastily re-badged Studebaker Presidents being marketed as "Packards" for 1957 and 1958. In truth, it was South Bend (along with Studebaker's under-utilized plant in Los Angeles) that should have been shut down, with production consolidated at the Packard plant in Detroit. The Packard assembly line on East Grand could have been re-opened, the assembly of Packards at Conner Avenue ended and the Studebakers could have been built at Packard's former 120 plant. Monday morning quarterbacking, as always, is futile...
Against this backdrop, the greatest of the Packard Caribbeans were produced. One of the hallmarks of Nance's time as president of Packard was to re-establish Packard as the leading luxury car manufacturer and to restore Packard's image of top-flight engineering. Thus the '56s continued with the unique "Torsion-Level" suspension system introduced in 1955. The displacement of the V8 engine was increased for the Packards from 352 cubic inches to 374 cubic inches, the largest and most powerful in the industry. With the "batwing" dual four barrel carburetor set up on the Caribbean engines, the horsepower output was 310.
The "batwing" dual four barrel carburetors on a 1956 Caribbean.
For 1956, Packard offered the industry's first power door locks and the first limited slip differential, "Twin-Traction". "Twin-Traction" transferred the power from one driving wheel to the opposite if one began to slip in snow or ice.
The "Twin-Traction" differential transfered power from a wheel that was spinning to the wheel that still had traction, and industry first and now standard on virtually all cars.
Nance, who had come to Packard from appliance maker Hotpoint, looked for things that would distinguish Packard from the competition; he was always "looking for a difference to sell". At Hotpoint, Nance had introduced the "pushbutton kitchen", so he loved it when Packard engineers came up with the pushbutton controls for the Twin-Ultramatic Drive automatic transmission.
"Tele-Touch Twin Ultramatic Drive"
For the Caribbeans, the tri-tone paint schemes from 1955 were continued, though the choices were revised. The names of the colors were changed across the line: the "Jewel Tones" of 1955 became names of places for 1956. For example "White Jade" from 1955 became "Dover White" in 1956. The white/light blue/dark metallic blue combination of 1955 was replaced with a white/blue/copper combination.
1956 Caribbean hardtop in "Dover White", "Danube Blue" and "Roman Copper".
Another new feature on the Caribbeans was reversible upholstery - all leather on one side and a cloth/leather combination on the other. Thus, according to the weather, the heat and cold prone leather could be flipped to a more comfortable cloth seating surface and on days when the temperature was more moderate, the upholstery could be flipped back to the luxurious leather.
Reversible upholstery on the 1956 Caribbean - here the passenger's seat cushion has been flipped to the cloth/leather side while the passenger's seat back is on the all-leather side as is the entire driver's seat.
An ad for the 1956 Caribbeans showing the reversible upholstery and the push button automatic transmission. Rare enough as they were, even more rare is a Caribbean in a two-tone rather than tri-tone paint scheme, this one being in Corsican Black and Naples Orange.
For 1956, most of the scarce money for restyling went to Studebaker as Nance struggled to get volume up there - South Bend was bleeding him white. With the all new '57s on the drawing boards and Nance desperately seeking funding for the tooling for the '57s, chief stylist Richard Teague couldn't do much with the '56 Packards. From a styling standpoint, the least changed of the '56s were the Caribbeans - though as the most prestigious of Packards, the Caribbeans benefitted from all the other features and improvements introduced on the 1956s. Teague squared up the deck lid and shuffled the trim a bit and added deeper "eyebrows" to the front headlights.
Deeper "eyebrows" over the headlights are one readily noticeable styling change on the '56 Caribbeans.
Because of the few styling changes, from 20 feet away, especially from the side, one must look closely to spot the difference between a '55 and a '56 Caribbean. In 1955, the Caribbean was only offered as a convertible. For 1956, it was offered both as a convertible, of which only 276 were built, and as a hardtop, with 263 built. Had the planned '57s been built, a four door hardtop would have joined the convertible and the two door hardtop.
Full size mock up of the planned '57 Packard Caribbean convertible. Two and four door hardtop versions were also planned. The four door version would have looked much like the Four Hundred four door pictured below.
The 1956 Packards, particularly the Caribbeans, were the most technically advanced cars of their time, despite being built on a body shell that dated back to the 1951 models. The engineering principles behind the Ultramatic Drive automatic transmission, especially the lock-up torque converter, became the basis for modern automatic transmissions. Packard led the industry with its 374 cubic inch V8 and scored two more industry firsts with their power door locks and limited-slip differential. In terms of colors and trim, like all the cars of the mid-'50s, the Packards - and especially the flamboyant Caribbeans - were rolling jukeboxes, though luxurious jukeboxes, if there could be such a thing. Had the '57s been produced as planned, Packard would have recaptured its former glory for superior engineering with the industry firsts those cars would have introduced. The '56s were a segue into that, even though the real '57s were never built. Nance and Packard went down fighting.
Next up: It won't be "Ruby" but next Tuesday, we'll look at the Packard "Predictor".
See more Ruby Tuesday entries HERE.
lundi 25 juin 2012
Portes de lundi
dimanche 24 juin 2012
Série du Pont de Dimanche
Two bridges, viewed here from the Oakland Estuary, carrying traffic on Fruitvale Avenue between Oakland and the island city of Alameda. The lift bridge is a railroad bridge that is no longer in use. This shot was taken with «Louis'» iPhone in the same spot as he took the photo of the High Street Bridge shown last Sunday.
samedi 23 juin 2012
Le psaume de dimanche
Sung by St. John's Episcopal Choir, Detroit.
Set to Anglican chant by J. Robinson, the St. John's Choir offers this Psalm on Whitsunday (Pentecost Sunday). 2:40
• • •
1 May God arise, may his enemies be scattered;
may his foes flee before him.
2 May you blow them away like smoke—
as wax melts before the fire,
may the wicked perish before God.
3 But may the righteous be glad
and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful.
4 Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
extol him who rides on the clouds;
rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.
5 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
is God in his holy dwelling.
6 God sets the lonely in families,
he leads out the prisoners with singing;
but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
7 When you, God, went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
8 the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.
9 You gave abundant showers, O God;
you refreshed your weary inheritance.
10 Your people settled in it,
and from your bounty, God, you provided for the poor.
11 The Lord announces the word,
and the women who proclaim it are a mighty throng:
12 “Kings and armies flee in haste;
the women at home divide the plunder.
13 Even while you sleep among the sheep pens,
the wings of my dove are sheathed with silver,
its feathers with shining gold.”
14 When the Almighty scattered the kings in the land,
it was like snow fallen on Mount Zalmon.
15 Mount Bashan, majestic mountain,
Mount Bashan, rugged mountain,
16 why gaze in envy, you rugged mountain,
at the mountain where God chooses to reign,
where the Lord himself will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are tens of thousands
and thousands of thousands;
the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.
18 When you ascended on high,
you took many captives;
you received gifts from people,
even from the rebellious —
that you, Lord God, might dwell there.
19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
20 Our God is a God who saves;
from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death.
21 Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies,
the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins.
22 The Lord says, “I will bring them from Bashan;
I will bring them from the depths of the sea,
23 that your feet may wade in the blood of your foes,
while the tongues of your dogs have their share.”
24 Your procession, God, has come into view,
the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary.
25 In front are the singers, after them the musicians;
with them are the young women playing the timbrels.
26 Praise God in the great congregation;
praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel.
27 There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them,
there the great throng of Judah’s princes,
and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, God;
show us your strength, our God, as you have done before.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem
kings will bring you gifts.
30 Rebuke the beast among the reeds,
the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations.
Humbled, may the beast bring bars of silver.
Scatter the nations who delight in war.
31 Envoys will come from Egypt;
Cush will submit herself to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth,
sing praise to the Lord,
33 to him who rides across the highest heavens, the ancient heavens,
who thunders with mighty voice.
34 Proclaim the power of God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
whose power is in the heavens.
35 You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary;
the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.
Praise be to God!
Sunday Psalm is hosted by Daily Athens and Katney's Kaboodle
vendredi 22 juin 2012
Le vendredi «Sky Watch»
See the Sky Watch Friday entries from around the globe!
jeudi 21 juin 2012
«Louis'» Youngest Customer
Bibi in Serbia's new grandson, Luka, has become «Louis'» youngest coffee customer! Note les vaches that are with Luka. This new caffeine addict is now just over a month old.
mercredi 20 juin 2012
Mercredi sans mots
See all the other participants in Wordless Wednesday
mardi 19 juin 2012
Mardi Rouge
(a.k.a. Red Car Day at Chez la Vache!)
1955 Packard Caribbean, one of 500 built
Chief stylist Richard Teague's famous "Cathedral" taillights
Today we continue with the evolution of the fabulous Packard Caribbeans with the 1955 model. Last week, we visited the 1954 Packard Caribbean. As we've previously seen, when chief stylist Richard Teague arrived at Packard in 1952, he inherited the Packards designed by John Rinehart and put into production in the 1951 model year. Due to the long lead times in auto production, the Teague touch was light on the first Caribbean, the '53. As we saw last week, the '54 began to show Teague's ideas for the car, but it was the '55s where the "Teague touch" was really seen, including Teague's famous "Cathedral" taillights. Some of the styling cues that appeared on the '54 Caribbean were carried over to the '55 model. Teague's facelift of the John Rinehart-designed '51 body shell was so successful most people thought the '55 Packards were entirely new cars.
Teague touches on the '55 Caribbeans that first appeared on the '54s.
The "Caribbean" script on the front fenders (above)
and the revised "Packard" script on the rear fenders (below).
Another Teague touch on the '55: the running lights on the side. The running lights came on when the headlights were on, but also came on when the doors were opened.
As discussed last week, the number of Caribeans built was decided arbitrarily by Packard management rather than by market demand. For 1953, 750 Caribbeans were built. For 1954, only 400. The number for 1955 rose to 500 Caribbeans produced.
The '55 Packards were fitted with "Torsion Level Ride". The conventional leaf spring rear suspension and coil spring front suspension was replaced by torsion bars on each side of the car connecting the front and rear wheels. The torsion bars were 13' long. A height adjustment mechanism was fitted to the suspension. No matter how the car was loaded, the height of the car would automatically adjust to the "correct" (pre-determined) height within 7 seconds. The ride on these big, heavy cars was fantastic and the Torsion Level system made these Packards amazingly nimble, especially given their size and weight.
The "Torsion Level" suspension system designed by engineer Bill Allison.
For 1955, Packard's venerable straight eight engine was replaced by a 352 cubic inch V8. On the Caribbeans, the V8 was fed by two four-barrel Rochester carburetors. This engine was the most powerful in the industry.
The "batwing" air cleaner setup on the dual four barrel Rochester carburetors feeding the Packard V8 in the Caribbean.
The '55 Caribbeans reflected the optimism of the Eisenhower years in the U.S. with most of them being painted in bright tri-tone paint schemes. Equally colorful were the interiors. tri-tone leather being standard in the Caribbeans. The Caribbeans were fully equipped: power steering, power brakes (a Packard first - introduced to the industry with Packard's '52 models), power seat, power windows, power antenna, signal-seeking radio (in those days, radios were still options on cars) and Packard's Twin Ultramatic Drive automatic transmission were all standard. The only options were air conditioning (another Packard first for the industry: introduced as an option in 1941) and wire wheels.
The colors of the tri-tone paint schemes of the exterior were repeated in the leather interior of the Caribbeans.
For 1955, Packard labeled their paint schemes "jewel tones". The Caribbean pictured today is painted in "White Jade", "Fire Opal" and "Onyx".
See more Ruby Tuesday entries HERE.
lundi 18 juin 2012
Portes de lundi
The doorway of a home in the Pacific Heights area of San Francisco. Many San Francisco millionaires, including U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein, live in this part of town. Note the carved horse in the window on the second floor.
samedi 16 juin 2012
Le psaume de dimanche
Sung by Westminster Abbey Choir. 2:00
• • •
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.
5 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.
6 The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us.
7 May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
Sunday Psalm is hosted by Daily Athens and Katney's Kaboodle
Série du Pont de Dimanche
vendredi 15 juin 2012
Le vendredi «Sky Watch»
An aircraft carrier, which «Louis» was not able to identify, is on San Francisco Bay during Memorial Day weekend. Given its comparatively small size of the ship and the configuration of the bridge, «Louis» guesses this carrier is for helicopters. The daily ship traffic log didn't list any ships from our Navy or any visiting ships from foreign Navies that weekend. The bow of a guided missile cruiser is seen at the right of this image. The guided missile cruiser was not listed in the ship traffic log, either. Seen in the background are the hills of the East Bay.
See the Sky Watch Friday entries from around the globe!
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