Re: Which was the first self-starting Packard?

Posted by John Harley On 2015/1/2 18:16:24

Gumby

Almost everybody had electric start and generating system by 1914. It was such a crying need that there was no reason to not install it. There were many systems in the market besides the Delco system. Dodge, for one, used a starter/generator in the same unit.

The holdout, of course, was Ford. They did not offer it until 1919 and then as an option. Post 1919 Model T's without a starter still carried oil cowl lamps.

Maybe Henry felt the starter polluted the purity of the "Universal Car" or something, but I'm willing to bet it had to do with paying royalties, and his vexed relationship with Cadillac. He founded what became Cadillac before the Ford Motor Company, but got thrown out by the bankers for fooling around with race cars.

Which is why he was carried to his grave in Packard hearse

Regards

John Harley