Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

1. I want to see this tape please
2. Could it be that one was staged for publicity. Like the photos??

Henry,

No problem seeing the tape. Do you still have a VHS machine?

That could be a possibility. Could there be more than one 25,000 car? Another interesting thing about the film car, it does not have a radio antenna.

Not sure where we can find out answers. Maybe board meeting minutes?

Maybe another car-a-van picture?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1955-PACKARD-CARRIBBEAN-CONVERTIBLE-FL-DLR-PARADE-PHOTO-/160623256798?hash=item2565e464de&item=160623256798&pt=Motors_Manuals_Literature&vxp=mtr#ht_500wt_922

Funny enough I do have a VCR lol!

Following up on the Florida photo of the Caribbean on e-bay. The signs on the car sure look exactly like the ones on the Valdosta one. So I am going to assume that it is another picture of a Packard car-a-van Caribbean.

The seller told me that it was a Tallahassee dealer. I contacted the PAC roster keeper for dealers, and he provided the following:

Cordell Motors
1200 North Monroe St?
Tallahassee FLA??
J W Cordell,? mgr

Cordell motors and John William motors are in the Atlanta zone. The Packard News said that the car-a-van schedule was; Detroit, Chicago, and the Atlanta followed by others.

Googling gave me these;

http://www.floridamemory.com/solr-search/results/index/page/3?q=Tallahassee+Motors%5E10+AND+collection%3A%22Florida+Photographic+Collection%22&searchbox=1&query=Tallahassee+Motors&year=&gallery=0

And

http://local.aaca.org/traaca/Chassee/May04Chassee.pdf


Interesting that he sold Hudson & Packard.


EDIT: an interesting discovery. The e-bay seller says the photo is taken in Talahassee. This says other wise;

http://www.floridamemory.com/solr-search/results/index/page/1?q=Packard+OR+tt%3APackard%5E10&query=Packard&searchbox=&gallery=

The Brooks Brierley article "The Last of the Big Packards" may have some clue as to the reason the windshield wipers are missing on the test car, and perhaps to some changes made before the car started it's publicity circuit. In his discussion of the Proving Grounds run, he says:

"The run included a number of interesting details. The "pheasant windscreen was one of them. Early in the run, a pheasant came up over the guard rail and was hit by the test car. On a subsequent lap, another pheasant jumped the rail and went through the windshield. Something was needed to protect the car. A piece of Plexiglas was sent out from the Detroit airport and taped to the space where the windshield had been. The Plexiglas would scratch if the windshield wipers were used, so the wipers were turned off". Perhaps he meant the wipers were removed?

O-D,

Where is this article printed?

After looking at the article and seeing the film/video of the event, if we could talk to someone who wore the checked hats (in the article, and film/video) vrs. the non checkered hats in the photos provided by Roger Detroit it might give us some better perspective.

Also note that both cars in the one from Roger and the article/film/video DONOT have a fender mounted antenna, only the one on the trunk.

There is one car in the pictures from Roger, next to the timing tower that has a fender mounted antenna.

https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=9154&viewmode=flat&order=ASC&type=&mode=0&start=0

It appeared in Automobile Quarterly some years back.

Hello Let the Ride.. and Cli55er:

What would it take to get a copy of either the VHS tape of DVD?

I am on the Packard Motor Car Foundation (PPG) committee and we do not have that video. We would like to show that tape during tours of the PPG. We have folks that can re-master that and work on the audio.

Or can you tell me the source with the BEST generation of the images? Please send me a PM.

Thanks, --Roger--

Roger,

Sent PM. The video that The Studebaker National Museum sells, "The Watchdogs" is a good one shot all at the PPG in 1953-54?

https://studebakermuseum.org/p/archives-and-education/archive-collections/


Another good one is "The Safe Road Ahead" it was done in 1956 and a lot at the PPG.

IF you could find the people that have the film and then digitize them that would be great!

Most of the V8 commercials I have seen were shot at the PPG. They would be nice to have digitized too.

Edit,

Another video/DVD from The Studebaker National Museum, "Men bet their lives on it" would be another one to have for the arsenal of defense section of the PPG. Looks like it was done in 1944-1945 time frame? Shows the Merlin engine, PT boats, planes, racing cars, boats and planes from early days. Interesting film of the Packard plant, and the buildings built during the war years.

YES women working on Packard Merlin engines!

The last part of the film is about getting ready to start up after the war. Shows Lyman Slack discussing with a military man about opening up a dealership in the post war!

In looking at this brochure for another post, I actually read some of it;

https://www.packardinfo.com/xoops/html/downloads/1955_2GreatLinesBrochure.pdf

On page 5 & 6 it refers to "Packard 55". Would that have been for one car, or for all the test cars? The article seems to indicate multiple cars testing different parts, and models?

Again also note on page 6 that it does not look like any front fender antennas are on the cars, as well as side trim.

Page 18, again looks like no antenna, and side trim on the car showing push button windows.