Description
Featured within this “auto”-biography is a foreword by preeminent old car enthusiast and collector Jay Leno. In addition to a multitude of car collecting stories from Jack Passey and an extensive color overview of many of the best cars in his collection, you will also enjoy a full-color look into the Otis Chandler collection.
This 11 x 8.5-inch, coffee-table style, hardbound book contains approximately 200 photographs on 192 acid-free pages, 64 of which are color, giving superior photo reproduction of both black and white and color photographs. The book uses smythe-sewn library quality binding and features a color dust jacket and color cover.
Jack Passey has had a lifelong love affair with old cars. In 1932, at the age of 6, he could identify every make of car on the road. By age 19, Jack owned a 1927 Essex, a 1928 Buick and a 1936 Ford Convertible Coupe. By his mid-twenties, Jack had acquired a 1923 Lincoln Phaeton, a 1912 Cadillac Speedster, a 1925 Stutz Brougham, a 1931 Pierce-Arrow, 1930 and 1933 Cadillac V-16s, a 1937 Packard V-12 and a 1934 Dietrich Packard V-12. He did all of this while attending college and operating a one-man auto repair business. So began his lifelong quest to save fine old cars from the wreckers.
By 1958, at age 32, Jack’s collection had swelled to 90 cars, plus 30 or so parts cars. To safely store them all, he single-handedly converted an enormous abandoned chicken coop into a weather-proof storage garage.
Jack’s encyclopedic knowledge of old cars and his photographic memory has lead to a five decade-long concours judging career at such events as the Lincoln Owners Club, the CCCA Grand Experience and the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Jack has judged at the world-renowned Pebble Beach show for the last 35 years.
In 1951, Jack went on his first Lake Tahoe Tour put on by legendary casino owner and car collector Bill Harrah. Jack knows first hand that old cars bring people together. And it’s the people, and the lasting friendships, that are most special.
Jack’s car friends have included Ray Dietrich, Tom Powels, Andy Hotton, Roy Warshawsky, Austin Clark, Phil Hill, J.B. Nethercutt, Don Williams and Briggs Cunningham.
“The most fabulous ride of my life” began for Jack in 1996 when he received a phone call from lifelong friend and retired publisher of the Los Angeles Times, Otis Chandler. Otis asked, “How would you like to help me put together a great museum of classic cars?” This simple request resulted in a collection of superb classic and antique automobiles with a 2006 value of $36 million.
This book is a tribute to Jack Passey’s lifelong passion for fine old cars. And when you read it, you will feel as though Jack is sharing all his great car stories with you over a cup of coffee.
Jack lives and breathes old cars and has made a comfortable living following his passion. Here are some highlights of his amazing life story.
• In his lifetime Jack has owned almost 200 antique and classic cars, including 92 Lincolns, 36 Packards, 15 Cadillacs, five Duesenbergs, 16 Pierce-Arrows, five Locomobiles and three McFarlans.
• His encyclopedic knowledge of antique and classic cars is based on over 60 years of hands-on experience.
• Jack has bought hundreds of outstanding antique and classic cars for himself and his clients.
• Since the 1950s, Jack has been a pioneer and leader in the movement to save great old cars.
• His current collection of antiques and classics includes many completely original, unrestored, one-of-a-kind gems.
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