Wow! This is just the sort of history and info I have been looking for! Does anyone have any additional info on this car - particularly what it was up to in Europe during the 1930s???

Also I notice that it reads that this is based on a 1916-19 chassis - but did the cars of that era have 14" front drum brakes?? Might this have been a change inspired by ongoing development during the 1930s?

I would ring and ask the price - but I have a horrible feeling that the answer would scare me...

****BUMP****

I think just this one last attempt at finding this information (if it exists) - although I still haven't had the chance to drop in on Wade et al to have a look at his "Packards at Speed" book - which I still want to buy a copy of. The usual Xmas financial crunch put stop to my plans to order one of these some weeks ago, but I hope to be able to soon.

However, it seems that there is little or no information about cars of the type that I am after available. I am not going to let this get in the way of my intended project however, and after some research of the Packard history and with my knowledge of GP cars ofthe mid 1930s, I have a pretty good concept of what Packard would have done had they created a racing car in the period.

It would be a fabulous project - a bit of a study in 'what if' automotive design - and one of the best things is that I should be able to create this car without breaking up a complete existing vehicle.

I hope you all stay tuned as I will value your feed back on my concepts of both the styling and components to be used.

Cheers,

Matt Snape

Hi Mal,

Reading this thread has become a daily obsesion. I have been too busy at work to be able to drop by as promised - but maybe next week? It always seems like my work load and obligations expand to fill every moment and won't let up to give me some 'hobby' time... bugger!

Anyway, all the best to yourself and Wade for Xmas if I don't get a chance to catch up before hand.

Cheers

Matt Snape

***BUMP***

I'm still hoping someone will see this and recall a Packard based racing special of the 1930's. Surely some enterprising young racer saw the potential of these cars in their day?

Hi Mal - this is a pretty incredible thread you have going here. Great to see such enthusiasm.

I sent Wade an email last night re his kind offer to lend me his book, to be honest I don't want to impose and I am very flattered that he would make such an offer to a relative stranger. I am hoping the wife will buy a copy for me for Xmas - and maybe also Robert Neals book on Packard motors ...? I suppose there is no harm in asking.

Anyway, I hope to get a chance to drop by next week and will bring the overalls if I can find the time. I can't really think of a better way to spend an afternoon.

Thanks to all of those that are currently helping with my enquiries re Racing Packards and to yourself and Wade in particular for being so generous with both your time and expertise.

Regards

Matt Snape

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

Thanks for the welcome & the info Mal. Not a member of the Club yet - but will be if I go ahead with this project as I hope. Still in the research stage at this point.

Does anybody have information on Packard based racing cars of the mid to late 30's era. Specifically I am hoping to find out about single or two seater, open wheeled cars that may have run in road, circuit, speed or oval track events using the S8 engine. I am currently looking at taking on such a project and would appreciate any information or photos that you may have. Many thanks in advance. Matt.