Jon Root of Leawood has loved Packards since he took his first drive in one at age two. That’s right. Drive, not ride.

 Root’s eyes twinkle as he tells the story. Root’s father passed away in 1940 when he was 2. After that, he and his mom were often visited by two family friends who owned Packard convertible coupes, one a 1930 and one 1932. Root used to love riding in the rumble seat as they went on errands. One day while the adults were visiting, Root climbed into the Packard and accidentally bumped it out of gear. It rolled slowly down the drive backward, but a passing paperboy jumped in and put on the brake. Root laughs when he says he thinks he was the youngest person to ever drive a Packard.

 The images of those early Packards left an indelible impression on Root. He loved the huge headlights, big chrome stone guards in front of the radiator and bright red hexagon emblems on the wire wheels. He always said he would have a Packard someday.

 At age 63, he finally got the Packard he had wanted all his life. His car, which he calls the Green Queen, is a 1932 Deluxe Eight, model 903, style 519 and car No. 150. There are only 10 cars like it registered in the national Packard Club. This car originally cost $3,750, which was eight times more expensive than a 1932 Ford.

 Root and his wife Bonney have had the Green Queen for three years. Root bought it from a dealer in Seattle. He knew he was going to buy it the moment he first saw it. Once he got it home and began to drive it, it was plagued by a periodic backfire. With help from Wilbur Haupt, a fellow Packard enthusiast, he checked the ignition system and fuel system but couldn’t find the problem. His patience was wearing thin and he began to think his car was never going to be right. One day, as he was looking around the gas tank with a flashlight, he discovered a twisted copper fuel line on top of the gas tank. He replaced the fitting and now the car runs perfectly. The eight-cylinder engine is so quiet you can hardly hear it idle and the ride is magic-carpet smooth.

 Jon and Bonney love cruising in their Packard. They take it out three or four nights a week just to amble down quiet streets. But they have also driven it to Jamesport, Mo., and Wichita.

 After 61 years of dreaming, Root has a Packard at last. The longer a dream stays alive, the sweeter it is once it’s fulfilled.