Re: The 57 chop job

Posted by BH On 2009/10/11 10:02:16

I spoke with the fella that had the rolling 1957 prototype chassis at Warren back in 2008. It appeared to be a little rough around the edges, but constructed from photocopies of photos of the original. I questioned the orientation of some design elements, but it showed that Packard was working on some interesting technology as well as styling.

He was from Punxsutawney, PA and is the same fella who built the Black Bess replica. Prior to the Centennial, the Black Bess project was featured, as a work in progress, in his Letter to the Editor in Cars & Parts magazine, asking for more info on the original car. I saw the finished product at Perrysburg one year (perhaps after the Centennial), and it was received with mixed reviews. It, too, was a little rough around the edges, but you have to keep in mind that the original Black Bess was only a mule. The interior, however, had more of a Studebaker flavor - reminded me of the interior of a couple Avanti-inspired Studebaker prototypes of the '60s that I'd seen up-close.

I believe this fella's ultimate goal is to construct an actual running and driveable 1957 car as Packard intended. I wish him best of luck and look forward to seeing the finished product.

Yup, there sure are a lot of people who will tell you what's wrong with your car. On the other hand, there are a lot of people out there who can flap their lip about all their plans. Yet, how many of them actually took on and ever completed a project of this magnitude?