A cousin in Texas found this huge press photo at a yard sale and sent it to me. King Transport delivered cars to Gene Meador Packard and other San Antonio area Deals.


TG

Attach file:

---

  46 47 King Transport San Antonio 1GX.jpg (245.86 KB)

"Another friend there told me that some (or maybe all) private vehicles became property of the state and had to be rented back or leased from the government when Castro took over. It was a nightmare for some... and a celebration for others. It all took place on New Year's Eve in 1958. By the time the sun arose over the harbor, it was all over and Cuba would never be the same. It took place 60 years ago tonight."

Thanks for the fascinating insight, there was a lot of pilfering by the new regime and horror stories abound. For the June issue of the Buick BUGLE, I interviewed the son of the last Buick Distributor for Cuba, who also had three dealerships in the Havana area. They had a similar story, but how cool that the Plainsman escaped on a ship.

I'd love to know more about the family with the Plainsman...I guess you've tracked down the estate's location and names of all involved. Can't wait to see the book.

Happy New Year!

TG

Has anyone run across these back issues from Volume 1, No. 1, originally at the UofM, newly-digitized by Google and found at the Hahti Trust Digital Library?

Definitely worth going through page by page with a wealth of early company data and imagery, the volumes are downloadable and in the public domain.

TG

Attach file:

---

  (108.70 KB)


  (249.76 KB)


  (240.62 KB)

The Iberostar Grand Hotel Packard in Havana (La Habana) just opened after dramatic renovations and additions, having laid empty in ruins for at least 20 years. I was there in November and had drinks in the 6th floor bar/restaurant, which I strongly suggest you do when in La Habana. I'll preface this post by saying that I've been researching all the dealerships of Havana (and Cuba) for almost three years and have made nine trips there since August, 2016 for the purpose of writing a book on the subject. (Iberostar Grand Hotel Packard image from Cubaism. com)

I was happy to run across Mart-Emmenes' posts from 2015, as it helps to answer a question I've been pondering for months. J. Ulloa y Cia. was indeed the Packard distributor from around 1921-22 until perhaps the very end at the time of the Revolution. The company sold Chandler, Chevrloet, Cleveland and Packard cars, plus Packard and Federal trucks at the 3-5 Prado address and later, 53 Paseo de Marti. The Prado and the Paseo Marti are one in the same, and this is one rare instance where the street numbers have changed. By 1958, J. Ulloa y Cia. repped Porsche cars at 53 Paseo Marti and the Packard Distributorship had moved to Avenida 51 in Marianao. Avenida 51 is also known as the Carretera Central de Cuba and was and still is a wealthy enclave with a mix of ambassadors' residences and fine homes.

But let's get back to the Hotel Packard. A 1931 guide book shows a view from the Hotel Sevilla Biltmore of a United Fruit Company ship entering the Havana Channel and Harbor. It shows the Hotel Biscuit, but the same guide book lists the Hotel Packard at 3 Prado (not the Biscuit) and gives its room prices. In a later colorized postcard of the exact same image, it's the Hotel Packard.

I've wondered why the Hotel Packard used the Packard crest in its stationery, and even the classic Packard script and grille shell as its luggage label! Having searched high and low to no avail for a company connection, it must be that J. Ulloa bought the Hotel Biscuit and renamed it Hotel Packard, around 1931-32. It remained the Hotel Packard till some time after the Revolution, became apartments and later fell into rack and ruin.

Since my travel there it's been under renovation and just opened in October, complete with a '47 Clipper on display for the gala celebration, a mascot-car that can be seen in its garage. My friend Lucy Marshall attended its opening night, and the last image is from the 6th floor bar looking out over the infinity pool at La Punta Fuerza and El Castillo del Morro.

The only way to get this type if info is to go to Cuba, find magazine ads, archives and other ephemeral sources, and dig deep into the Web. Relatively few Cubans know their own history because of governmental interference, but that's changing as their Internet access grows. The former hard line that nothing mattered before the Revolution is falling by the wayside, and everywhere you go images of pre-Castro Cuba are proudly, almost defiantly displayed.

It's the most fascinating, untold subject I can think of, and my book will be finished in 2019 in time for the quincentennial -the 500th anniversary- of La Habana.

Attach file:

---

  (94.11 KB)


  (141.71 KB)


  (163.87 KB)


  (201.50 KB)


  (72.55 KB)


  (97.23 KB)


  (186.77 KB)

Owen, good catch with the engine size on the placard...
seems there were quite a few typos on others, as well.

Agree with the purity of the design not distracted by
all manner of gewgaws. The dorsal fin on the trunk
looks alot better in the flesh than my image conveys.

TG

The 1938 120 by Graber was shown at the 2012 Amelia Island Concours yesterday and took an award.
What a thrill to see it there! Pics from its restoration are here.

TG


Larger


Larger


Larger


Larger


Larger

TG

Really delightful pics! This link should make it easier to find these artful photos...

TG

Tom,

Guess that means I'd better hurry on up to RI to photo-
document your '34 Coupe, eh?

Pictures of stacks of cash wouldn't be quite the same...

TG

There's a lot of good info on Hercules over at Coachbuilt.com

TG

The same seller that had the barn find wheelchair 180 listed a 1941 120 Station Wagon by Hercules
that came from the same stash.



Selling price---$75,901.99. Wonder if there were two or more folks who wanted it really badly,
or if that's an average price for a car in such condition?
It's a very handsome car...

TG