Re: Racing Packards of the 1930's???

Posted by Matt snape On 2009/12/1 8:40:22

John,
Thank you very much for your excellent reply and information - and what you have said confirms what I have learnt from the limited web based research that I have been able to do so far. I take it from this, then, that motorsport in the US was somewhat different during the pre and immediately post war years than it was here in Australia. Here we seem to have a relative wealth of unique 'home built' specials that were often cut down, weight reduced or re-engined versions of more common cars. They were most often built by individuals who simply wanted to create a car that they could race as cheaply as possible. Given the huge auto manufacturing industry in the US I guess it is not surprising that the big car companies created their own racing cars for testing and promotion. This may have left little room for the 'backyarder' who was able to shoehorn a flat head V8 along with the Morris bits that he had sitting under the house into a narrowed MG chassis.

I was, however, hoping that there would be some occurence of this sort of thing that involved Packard components that might be recorded. Perhaps given the cost of a Packard in their day this is less likely - although I do know of similar cars. I believe it was in 1937 that a gentleman named Oldfield ran a V16 Marmon engined special in qualifying at the Brickyard. It was not a pretty car to look at and did not qualify for the race (due to mechanical problems?), but the concept was brilliant - and if I thought there was a chance of finding such an engine and the other components within my rather tight budget then it would be a fabulous car to 'recreate'.

But I still find that I am drawn by the Packard marque and hope that if you, or anyone else, are able to dredge up any memories or references to such a car then I would be very appreciative.

Also, I am very interested in obtaining/reading Robert Neals book and if somebody has a copy they are willing to part with, could you please let me know.

Regards

Matt Snape