In the early 1980s, as he was driving from Howard County, Md. to the western side of the state, Charlie Bronk spotted a 1931 Chevrolet 2-door Sedan with a “For Sale” sign posted on it.  Flooded with memories of the past, Charlie pulled over and took some time to look over the old Chevy.  After chatting with the owner of the car, he learned that the vehicle originally belonged to the owner’s grandfather.

The owner wanted to turn the old car into a hot rod; however, the grandfather refused to allow the car to be transformed in such a way. Under the grandfather’s order, the car had to be sold to someone who would restore the car, not modify it.  And, Charlie was game.  He purchased the Chevy.  And, he says that this was his introduction to the collector car hobby.

Charlie says that, unfortunately, that car “needed so much work”… too much work.  The cost to restore that car would have exceeded the price for which he could ever sell it, so he sold it after only owning the Chevy for a few months. But, Charlie already had gained a huge appreciation for old cars and knew that he wanted to get another car; it just had to be something more “appropriate,” he says.

Fast-forward a handful of years to 1985— Charlie stumbled across a 1940 Packard for sale.

“Now, that’s a real automobile,” he said to himself.

He bought the Packard, and jumped right back into the hobby. After owning the Packard for a bit, Charlie added a 1958 Cadillac to his collection. And, later, he sold both the Packard and the Caddy to buy a 1940 Packard 110 Convertible that he says he owned for some time.

By 1990, Charlie retired and moved from Maryland to North Carolina and sold the ’40 Packard to only turn around and buy a 1948 Packard Custom Sedan.  In 1999, he drove that vehicle out to the 100th Anniversary of the Packard, in Warren, Ohio.  But, after that trip and the recognition of some health problems (vertigo), he and his wife, Audrey, decided that they needed to get a car that the missus could drive, also.

After driving a ’53 Packard Caribbean Convertible for a bit, Charlie and Audrey finally came across the perfect Packard for the pair, in 2002: a 1947 Packard Custom Super 4-Door Sedan.  The ’47 was just right for them, and it also brought the couple some nostalgia, as they both graduated in 1947.

He explains that his Packard has every option that was available in 1947 and adds that the car went for nearly $5000, at that time.

“So, you had a choice,” says Charlie. “You could buy six to eight Fords or one Packard.”

“Packards are considered by many to be the finest mass-produced vehicle,” he goes on to say. “And, that’s why I drive a Packard.”

In June 2003, the Bronks also added a 1962 Mercedes 220 SE Cabriolet to the family, says Charlie. He adds that the car was fully restored and only needed some cleaning up and servicing.

Charlie and Audrey enjoy their two collector cars while taking tours across the country, such as the Lincoln Highway Anniversary Tour and drives along Route 66. They also attend car shows that are held by the AACA, along with some local shows in North Carolina.  Both vehicles have been awarded the “Red Bird Award,” a special designation granted by the NC Region of the AACA, that Charlie says is the equivalent of “First Place.”

Charlie is a member of the AACA, and is especially involved in the local “Sandhills Chapter” that his wife helped start, in 1998. He also participates as a member of The Packard Club, the Mercedes-Benz Club and the Old Dominion Packard Club. He adds that he has been a member of the Old Dominion Packard Club for over 20 years, and he says that he considers the members of the club to be his “extended family.”

“I think the most wonderful part about the hobby is maintaining these cars for future owners,” says Charlie.  “And, we get the opportunity to meet really wonderful people.”

Story by: Becky McLaughlin

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