Re: What about the 25K 105mph V8 Patrician?

Posted by Reyman R. Branting On 2011/4/5 22:51:03

I attended a national Packard meet near Harrisburg, PA sometime before the 'Three Mile Island" incident. I had visited the Three Mile Island plant to see some of the steel we had supplied and stopped for the Packard meet on the way home.

Bob Alison(sp?) spoke at the meet and showed a short film (pre-video days)of the test bed he had made to exhibit the merits of full length torsion bar suspension. It was almost laughable in its simplicity, but very, very impressive in the way it handled rail road crossings and similar bumps. The movie also showed contemporary luxury cars crossing the same bumps at the same speed and bucking like a bronco.

I didn't get to speak with Bob, which is a shame. He seemed like the kind of fellow you would want for a close friend.

Somewhere I saw a note that the Allison test bed used full length torsion bars connecting front and rear wheels on opposite sides of the car. To my memory it was not mentioned that evening. Has anyone else heard that story? There are so many "urban myths" about the 55-56 Packards it would be good to find out the truth.

Bernardi