Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Hank, and all your Car-A-Van afficianodos...thanks for your quick eye. Indeed, the grille mesh does not extend under the headlight nacelles, so I believe our guess was right: it was installed to hinder build up of insects and other matter.

I just checked the parts book for the screen, and sure enough the grille screen is 1956 only (two colors). It's a dull day that you don't learn something new and I stand corrected. My apologies and thanks for pointing that out.

Hey,apologies are never necessary! I have learned so much from the great website and the people that make it great. It's all in the spirit of celebrating this extraordinary marque and the men and women who made it great and who have subsequently kept it alive. My turn will come to be wrong...trust me!

The video I found on the Packard proving grounds was on the History Channel. It was Modern Marvels, proving grounds. It was close to the end of the program, after showig testing milatary equipment in Alaska.

It showed actual footage of late 1920's cars and 1953 or 1954 cars being put through the tests! It also showed the proving grounds before the Packard Foundation got it. WOW was it in bad shape! There was interviews with Carl Altz, and John MacAuthur, among others. It showed someones Packard being driven on the over grown track.

Still looking for the footage I remember seeing on the 25,000 mile car.

I recognize that this has morphed from a Car-A-Van to the 1955 Endurance Run.

In the photos I posted earlier I don't know who is standing with Col Jesse Vincent, but I hope that is either a Stroh's or Goebel beer in his hand and not something imported.

Yes, the gas pumps are on a small island across from the timing stand aka "the pagoda." Below is a photo from 1933 when the island had a visible pump - this will give you some perspective.

And since you guys liked the first batch of 1955 photos I have attached some more. Notice in the Pit Stop photo the timing markers on tall poles spaced around the track - one is near the one guy's hat brim.

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This is a wonderful thread with awesome historical narrative and pictures. I love it!

Roger,
These are interesting as well.

Does the Packard proving grounds till have the gas pump structure? I just remember a fence across from the timing tower.


The 2nd photo, I am guessing it is not the 25,000 mile car. I base this on the fact that there is a front fender antenna, that was not on the earlier posted pictures. I can not see a clutch, but can see the easeamatic brake pedal. This car appears to be an Ultramatic, and the article about the Taylor dealership said the car was a standard.

Some observations about what I see on this car; there is no rubber on the windshield post. There is the stainless water trough that is only on very early cars, even production ones. It is right at the corner of the wrap-around windshield trim. It connects to the trough that is on the cowl. Maybe it has been awhile, but I do not think my door locks were painted, maybe they were.

The 3rd photo is neat too. I like the clearly visible Packard clock in the timing tower? I can see power window switches on the driver side door panel. The paint on the top looks lighter than the 25,000 mile car. I wonder if this was the blue one that was used in the full line brochure? This was discussed in post #8 of this thread.https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/uploads/photos/8896.jpg The hubcaps do not appear to be the V8 ones. Looks more like the 51. There is also a hood ornament on this one as well.

Do you know this mans name?

The 4th photo, always a couple of supervisors around while others are working! How were the timing markers used? Was only by sight, or was here some kind of device that registered when going past them? Didn't someone donate one back to the proving grounds? You can also see the lift platform that was used when lifting the car o change out the tires.


The last photo, the guys looked tired!

Hello Ride Decide:

No, none of the gas pump structure exists. In fact, I am not certain if the concrete base remains, but is inside the PPG boundry line.

Second and third photos were staged by Packard and for all the points on the car you noticed it MAY not be the true endurance car. Also, it was taken in daylight and we know the finish came at night.

I do not know the names - only have copies of the photos.

Yes, the PMCF did receive one of the timing balls, I saw it on Monday and it needs some repair before it can be displayed again. I always ASSUMED that they were a visual marker (not electric) where someone in the timing stand measured the passing car with a stopwatch.

Speaking of donations, a few years ago we received a sign that said "STOP - Durability Run In Progress." We thought it was for 1955, but Carl Altz corrected us and said it was for 1936. I had to take a photo of the sign with Carl - he was 98 at the time.

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Roger,
Does anyone know if the Patrician in the picture that Esquireman posted on this site is the 25,000 mile car? So far everything I have seen seems to indicate that it is.

If we could find other pictures of a Packard car-a-van at another dealer, that would help.

Here are more photos from "Packard News"

I am still looking for the video that was made of the "motion picture on the historic event". Anyone know where it resides?

The last time the PAC national meet was in Detroit, we got to listen to Carl being interviewed at the PPG. Great picture of him with the sign.

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FINALLY, I found it!

The VHS tape is labeled "The New 1955 Packard Engine Promo". At the end it says "Packard Master Motor Builder". It is a transfilm production.

It starts off showing the V8 on a dianometer. It shows the blocks being worked on in Utica. It shows the precision that the motor went through. Balancing the crankshaft, checking the crankshaft bearing, etc.

It shows Bill Graves, James Nance, Ray Powers, Jessie Vincent, many engineers, and shows blueprints being produced for the motor.

It then shows the car racing around the track. It has aerial shots of the car flying around the track. You see the Linburg hanger, the timing tower, the Utica plant, as the car goes on, and on.

HOWEVER, it is not the car in Roger's pictures.

It has the correct hood ornament, no hood strap! No damaged windshield. It shows the car in rain, and both windshield wipers working. It shows the Patrician at the top of the track in the curves! It shows inside view of one on the drivers taking it around the track. It shows the changing of the drivers. The one at the wheel leaves from the front passenger door. The new driver enters from the rear passenger side door, and crawls over the front seat, and takes off. The AAA man is using a checkered flag to show the end of the run, not the white one in Roger's photo. It shows the 1952 Indianapolis race winner driving it. It says the AAA inspectors impounded the car for analysis.

The support crew are wearing the checked hats in the film.

It mirrors the pictures in the "Packard News"

So how can that be?