The Ford Barn

Hoop · 11-08-2016, 02:56 PM

In case you're wondering ... $750,000 or so.

http://autoweek.com/article/car-life...d-plunged-pond

VeryTangled · 11-08-2016, 03:07 PM

“This was most unfortunate,” Carolyn Vanagel, festival president said. “We feel badly for the owners whose car had just won best-of-class.”

Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/cars/article112936628.html

RalphM · 11-08-2016, 04:31 PM

What a shame, I've always loved the prewar packards.
Hope he had good insurance, at least all that can be fixed, unlike a fire or other types of damage.

rotorwrench · 11-08-2016, 06:03 PM

To say that the owner had a bad day is a hell of an understatement. I hope he got it out of there in as short time as possible. The dry out process will be a b!tch to save any wood and stave off corrosion. The electrics may be a total loss. The interior should be completely disassembled right away and all of the running gear drained & flushed with light oil as soon as possible. I've worked on flooded cars and it is disheartening to do one like that.

I bet he will carry wheel chocks from now on. Some of those old hand brakes weren't all that good. Since I have the old Borg Warner electric overdrives, I got in the habit of putting the car in reverse and setting the hand brake a long time ago. My brother had one roll away on him and I learned from his mistake.

Willit Stop · 11-08-2016, 06:12 PM

How unfortunate. It reminded me of a VW commercial from years ago:
" Volkswagens will definitely float but they won't float indefinitely.So steer around the big puddles,especially the ones that have names."

Kurt in NJ · 11-08-2016, 08:43 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

there was a story in the model a club publication a while ago about 4 new cars being delivered to sout america that sunk during the transfer from boat to shore by barge, 4 days later they werte fished out, the water drained---the batterys were even flushed, the cars started and were delivered to the owners

DavidG · 11-08-2016, 08:51 PM

This isn't just about forgetting to use hand brake as clearly the car was left in neutral rather than in gear. How many owners (or their hired hands) of cars of that caliber are that careless?

RalphM · 11-08-2016, 11:32 PM

You know, I always leave my car in gear, but when at a car show it bothers me.
I agree with leaving it in gear, but I'm always thinking some idiots going to come along while I'm not there and push the button on the starter solenoid, or on the dash, and send the car jumping to who knows where.
I swear sometimes I feel I should hire a guard at some of the shows. I caught some guy leaning on my radiator support rods as if they were hand rails( I almost smacked him)And a kid one time hanging off my drivers door( Lord knows where his parents were), had I not had some restraint I certainly would be in jail for child abuse.

Hoop · 11-09-2016, 05:34 AM

"This isn't just about forgetting to use hand brake as clearly the car was left in neutral rather than in gear. How many owners (or their hired hands) of cars of that caliber are that careless?"

Not sure exactly what David is saying. I'm not sure that the car was left in neutral ... could have been, but I do not know what transmission/drive train is in this Packard. I'm not an expert on the different types of "free-wheeling" that MAY have been used, but Packards did have the option. I would hold my opinion. What seems to be most suspect is that the parking brake was not used, failed, or was inoperable. Clearly the car was not properly chocked ... surprisingly few are.

Careless? If David is saying that the handling of high end concours cars is rarely careless, that is true. "Fussy" is a better description. It's very common for high end cars to be handled not by the owner but rather by a crew that insures that the car will be properly prepared and protected.

By the way, this happened at Hilton Head. This was not a mall show where spectators and their kids climb all over the cars ... or reach in and hit the starters.

I don't know at what point in the show this happened. Was it during set up in the morning or after an award presentation with the car returning to its parking spot. I can assure you that there are plenty of distractions when moving a car around on the concours field. Early in the morning at daybreak with the dew still on the ground and numerous concours staff directing and parking hundreds of cars in their exact spot ... or parading to receive an award through throngs of people. There is a certain level of distraction that may have played into this.

Point is that somebody screwed up due to an oversight, distraction, mechanical problem/misunderstanding. As in aviation, most accidents are attributed to "pilot error."

It will be interesting to see if more is reported.

ronn · 11-09-2016, 06:09 AM

that car is a million and a half.................. the owner worked his butt off restoring it, and will do it again.

this discussion is also on the AACA forum.

DavidG · 11-09-2016, 10:44 AM

By 1938 free wheeling was a dead duck and no longer available: it should not have ever been offered at the beginning of the decade. It is scary to stop a 5,000+ pound car without any assistance from the compression of the engine (big ones in nearly all of the Classics). I've had several big Lincolns with it from earlier in the 'thirties and could never understand its attraction or purpose.

corvette8n · 11-09-2016, 11:47 AM

Unfortunate Accident, hope the car gets re-restored.

VeryTangled · 11-09-2016, 02:27 PM

Hi Everyone, I think it still had the ribbon on the windshield wiper! Hell of a souvenir. I just want to vomit!

Photo snip lifted from Instagram account of robianuario.

Clem Clement · 11-09-2016, 10:50 PM

I hear the car was in brackish water for severl hours. Not good

RalphM · 11-09-2016, 10:58 PM

So the big question is, did the diver pick up a trunk full of those expensive Titleist balls to offset the cost of the repairs?

rotorwrench · 11-10-2016, 09:30 AM

Hilton Head Island likely has an underflow of brackish semi salty water. It is not as bad as straight sea water but not good in any case. Once something is pickled like that, it takes a lot of work to get the salt out.

19Fordy · 11-10-2016, 09:33 AM

Makes you want to cry.
I really feel for the owner, even with insurance.
No one deserves such an incident.

Hoop · 11-10-2016, 01:47 PM

With people crying and vomiting, maybe Ryan needs to get some grief counselors onto Ford Barn.

( ... could be catching.)

RalphM · 11-10-2016, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hoop

With people crying and vomiting, maybe Ryan needs to get some grief counselors onto Ford Barn.

( ... could be catching.)

Sounds familiar

Hoop · 11-10-2016, 09:49 PM

"Poor judgement." Ralph, I'm still chuckling over your original version.

RalphM · 11-10-2016, 10:58 PM

Me too, but I have to be PC(sorry, I just choked abit).

mercman from oz · 11-10-2016, 11:38 PM

What a sorry end to a great day for the owner. Getting the car back to the standard that it was is going to be a tough job. Our hearts go out to the owner who must be feeling very low at this time.

Hoop · 11-11-2016, 06:43 AM

"... must be feeling very low at this time."

The Packard belongs to Ralph Marano, a class guy who also owns 90 other cars including 63 Packards. Many are museum quality. He owns his own museum.

He joked at the time that the Concours should establish a "submarine class" for cars.

Few people would ever remember that his Bohman & Schwartz won First-in-Class at Hilton Head. However, nobody will forget that it was his "million dollar Packard" that rolled into the pond. Unfortunate as the soaking is, he and his car are now celebrities.

At the next concours he enters, my bet is that he will be required to equip whatever car he brings with SCUBA tanks in addition to (maybe instead of) a fire extinguisher. At the reception/dinner prior to the day of the concours itself, he no doubt will be presented with a fancy, personalized set of wheel chocks. There will be no shortage of humor ... and there will be no crying, blowing of beets, or rending of hearts.

He will be required to show proof of flood insurance.

This is the stuff that old car show legends are made of. It enriches the hobby.

The car will be restored ... thankfully it's owned by a dedicated collector with ample resources to redo this unique classic.

rotorwrench · 11-11-2016, 12:43 PM

Some of the reports mention that a woman was seen partially entering the cab. Stuff like that leads to speculation and conspiracy theories about disgruntled entrants and such. The concours show folks do take things very seriously but sometimes sh!t just happens too.

It sound like the fellow is in good enough financial condition to weather the storm but he left a long standing memory for others. It might not be the kind of recognition he wanted but recognition none the less.

11-08-2016, 02:56 PM	#1
Hoop Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 1,137	Bobbing for Packards In case you're wondering ... $750,000 or so. http://autoweek.com/article/car-life...d-plunged-pond __________________ "Remember that when it comes to intelligence, half of all of us are below average."

11-08-2016, 03:07 PM	#2
VeryTangled Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: (Not far enough...) Outside of DC Posts: 3,387	Re: Bobbing for Packards “This was most unfortunate,” Carolyn Vanagel, festival president said. “We feel badly for the owners whose car had just won best-of-class.” Read more here: http://www.islandpacket.com/cars/article112936628.html __________________ -Jeff H Have you thought about supporting the Early Ford V-8 Foundation Museum?

11-08-2016, 04:31 PM	#3
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,651	Re: Bobbing for Packards What a shame, I've always loved the prewar packards. Hope he had good insurance, at least all that can be fixed, unlike a fire or other types of damage.

11-08-2016, 06:03 PM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: Bobbing for Packards To say that the owner had a bad day is a hell of an understatement. I hope he got it out of there in as short time as possible. The dry out process will be a b!tch to save any wood and stave off corrosion. The electrics may be a total loss. The interior should be completely disassembled right away and all of the running gear drained & flushed with light oil as soon as possible. I've worked on flooded cars and it is disheartening to do one like that. I bet he will carry wheel chocks from now on. Some of those old hand brakes weren't all that good. Since I have the old Borg Warner electric overdrives, I got in the habit of putting the car in reverse and setting the hand brake a long time ago. My brother had one roll away on him and I learned from his mistake.

11-08-2016, 06:12 PM	#5
Willit Stop Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Eureka Calif. Posts: 969	Re: Bobbing for Packards How unfortunate. It reminded me of a VW commercial from years ago: " Volkswagens will definitely float but they won't float indefinitely.So steer around the big puddles,especially the ones that have names."

11-08-2016, 08:43 PM	#6
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,158	Re: Bobbing for Packards Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) there was a story in the model a club publication a while ago about 4 new cars being delivered to sout america that sunk during the transfer from boat to shore by barge, 4 days later they werte fished out, the water drained---the batterys were even flushed, the cars started and were delivered to the owners

11-08-2016, 08:51 PM	#7
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: Bobbing for Packards This isn't just about forgetting to use hand brake as clearly the car was left in neutral rather than in gear. How many owners (or their hired hands) of cars of that caliber are that careless?

11-08-2016, 11:32 PM	#8
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,651	Re: Bobbing for Packards You know, I always leave my car in gear, but when at a car show it bothers me. I agree with leaving it in gear, but I'm always thinking some idiots going to come along while I'm not there and push the button on the starter solenoid, or on the dash, and send the car jumping to who knows where. I swear sometimes I feel I should hire a guard at some of the shows. I caught some guy leaning on my radiator support rods as if they were hand rails( I almost smacked him)And a kid one time hanging off my drivers door( Lord knows where his parents were), had I not had some restraint I certainly would be in jail for child abuse.

11-09-2016, 05:34 AM	#9
Hoop Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 1,137	Re: Bobbing for Packards "This isn't just about forgetting to use hand brake as clearly the car was left in neutral rather than in gear. How many owners (or their hired hands) of cars of that caliber are that careless?" Not sure exactly what David is saying. I'm not sure that the car was left in neutral ... could have been, but I do not know what transmission/drive train is in this Packard. I'm not an expert on the different types of "free-wheeling" that MAY have been used, but Packards did have the option. I would hold my opinion. What seems to be most suspect is that the parking brake was not used, failed, or was inoperable. Clearly the car was not properly chocked ... surprisingly few are. Careless? If David is saying that the handling of high end concours cars is rarely careless, that is true. "Fussy" is a better description. It's very common for high end cars to be handled not by the owner but rather by a crew that insures that the car will be properly prepared and protected. By the way, this happened at Hilton Head. This was not a mall show where spectators and their kids climb all over the cars ... or reach in and hit the starters. I don't know at what point in the show this happened. Was it during set up in the morning or after an award presentation with the car returning to its parking spot. I can assure you that there are plenty of distractions when moving a car around on the concours field. Early in the morning at daybreak with the dew still on the ground and numerous concours staff directing and parking hundreds of cars in their exact spot ... or parading to receive an award through throngs of people. There is a certain level of distraction that may have played into this. Point is that somebody screwed up due to an oversight, distraction, mechanical problem/misunderstanding. As in aviation, most accidents are attributed to "pilot error." It will be interesting to see if more is reported. __________________ "Remember that when it comes to intelligence, half of all of us are below average."

11-09-2016, 06:09 AM	#10
ronn Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: NNNNNNNNJJJJJJJJJJ Posts: 6,787	Re: Bobbing for Packards that car is a million and a half.................. the owner worked his butt off restoring it, and will do it again. this discussion is also on the AACA forum.

11-09-2016, 10:44 AM	#11
DavidG Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: southeastern Michigan Posts: 10,101	Re: Bobbing for Packards By 1938 free wheeling was a dead duck and no longer available: it should not have ever been offered at the beginning of the decade. It is scary to stop a 5,000+ pound car without any assistance from the compression of the engine (big ones in nearly all of the Classics). I've had several big Lincolns with it from earlier in the 'thirties and could never understand its attraction or purpose.

11-09-2016, 11:47 AM	#12
corvette8n Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: 36 miles north of Albany NY Posts: 2,949	Re: Bobbing for Packards Unfortunate Accident, hope the car gets re-restored.

11-09-2016, 10:50 PM	#14
Clem Clement Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Fairfax, VA Posts: 3,393	Re: Bobbing for Packards I hear the car was in brackish water for severl hours. Not good

11-09-2016, 10:58 PM	#15
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,651	Re: Bobbing for Packards So the big question is, did the diver pick up a trunk full of those expensive Titleist balls to offset the cost of the repairs?

11-10-2016, 09:30 AM	#16
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: Bobbing for Packards Hilton Head Island likely has an underflow of brackish semi salty water. It is not as bad as straight sea water but not good in any case. Once something is pickled like that, it takes a lot of work to get the salt out.

11-10-2016, 09:33 AM	#17
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 10,936	Re: Bobbing for Packards Makes you want to cry. I really feel for the owner, even with insurance. No one deserves such an incident.

11-10-2016, 01:47 PM	#18
Hoop Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 1,137	Re: Bobbing for Packards With people crying and vomiting, maybe Ryan needs to get some grief counselors onto Ford Barn. ( ... could be catching.) __________________ "Remember that when it comes to intelligence, half of all of us are below average."

11-10-2016, 09:49 PM	#20
Hoop Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 1,137	Re: Bobbing for Packards "Poor judgement." Ralph, I'm still chuckling over your original version. __________________ "Remember that when it comes to intelligence, half of all of us are below average."

11-10-2016, 10:58 PM	#21
RalphM Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Pole, Alaska Posts: 2,651	Re: Bobbing for Packards Me too, but I have to be PC(sorry, I just choked abit).

11-11-2016, 06:43 AM	#23
Hoop Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jacksonville FL Posts: 1,137	Re: Bobbing for Packards "... must be feeling very low at this time." The Packard belongs to Ralph Marano, a class guy who also owns 90 other cars including 63 Packards. Many are museum quality. He owns his own museum. He joked at the time that the Concours should establish a "submarine class" for cars. Few people would ever remember that his Bohman & Schwartz won First-in-Class at Hilton Head. However, nobody will forget that it was his "million dollar Packard" that rolled into the pond. Unfortunate as the soaking is, he and his car are now celebrities. At the next concours he enters, my bet is that he will be required to equip whatever car he brings with SCUBA tanks in addition to (maybe instead of) a fire extinguisher. At the reception/dinner prior to the day of the concours itself, he no doubt will be presented with a fancy, personalized set of wheel chocks. There will be no shortage of humor ... and there will be no crying, blowing of beets, or rending of hearts. He will be required to show proof of flood insurance. This is the stuff that old car show legends are made of. It enriches the hobby. The car will be restored ... thankfully it's owned by a dedicated collector with ample resources to redo this unique classic. __________________ "Remember that when it comes to intelligence, half of all of us are below average."

11-11-2016, 12:43 PM	#24
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 16,426	Re: Bobbing for Packards Some of the reports mention that a woman was seen partially entering the cab. Stuff like that leads to speculation and conspiracy theories about disgruntled entrants and such. The concours show folks do take things very seriously but sometimes sh!t just happens too. It sound like the fellow is in good enough financial condition to weather the storm but he left a long standing memory for others. It might not be the kind of recognition he wanted but recognition none the less.