Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Travelling Through Packard History

            The Citizen's Motorcar Company in Dayton, OH is absolutely spectacular. Filled with classic Packards, including some very rare models, you soon realize as you make your way through that you are literally walking through the history of motoring in America.
          One of the truly unique cars in the collection is this 1928 Jesse Vincent Speedster. Vincent was the architect behind the famous Packard Twin Six engine. He also designed the Liberty aircraft engine which essentially won World War I. In the mid 1920s he was instrumental in the development of the Packard Testing Ground and then, under his guidance, had this spectacular racer built. It was clocked as going 139 on the test track. Legend has it that Charles Lindberg drove this car at 112 miles per hour the first time he ever got in it.
          One of the first ever Speedster bodies every to drape a Packard was on this 1925 Phaeton Speedster. This car was a custom body design for a New York customer with the outer shell being built by LaBaron Carrossiers. Priced at $10,000 this car was loaded with every luxury item available at the time.

          1928 was the last year for Packard's inline six engine. The following year they began rolling out the larger L Head Eight. This 1928 Convertible Coupe was the very first Packard owned by museum founder Bob Signom.
          This last picture is a perfect example of what you can see at the Citizen's Motorcar Company. I love the classic Packard in the foreground but beside it, hanging from the ceiling, is one of the magnificent Packard Twin Six motors on display.

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