Back in the day... (yep, I back in the day'd you already) there were service stations all over the place. Small towns would have multiple garages and it seemed like there were gas/service stations on every corner. There was a reason for this, vehicles back then needed constant care and maintenance. In this day and age, cars are generally maintenance free. All you need to do is fill them up, drive, and change the oil every 6000 miles or so. Back in 1946 vehicle maintenance was a different story: lubrication, tune ups, brake adjustment, cleaning engine sludge and the list goes on and on.
Attached to this article are two diagrams showing just the 1000 mile lubrication points of a Packard Clipper. Take a look to see all the points of interest. The starter and generators need individual attention. When is the last time you even thought about the alternator, wheel bearings, universal-joints, gear shifter, brake and clutch pedal shafts on your vehicle?
These old girls are great runners but need to be properly maintained. It does not take to long to complete the work but it is just another list of items of which you need to be aware. I guess we should be happy with the improvements that have come with modern cars, but to me the involvement that was required when driving a vehicle of this vintage is part of their charm.