Packard Forum Index » Pre-War (1899-1942)

G'day,

I was sent these pictures by a guy in the Hudson-AMC Club here in Oz. Here's what he said:

"I see that you have a '41 Packard! Do you know that Admiral Nimitz (World War II) car, a '42 Packard that he used when in Australia is being restored in Taree? It's owned by a mate of mine who bought it from the estate of the late Bruce Cooper. Bruce bought it many years ago as a tow car for his Maserati race car see original photo (taken at Bathurst I think)".

And later he sent me this:

"The guy who owns it now is Kevin ........ ? a mate who has done some superb restorations of cars. He has quite a collection in his ?shed' just out of Taree. He also bought another car from Bruce's estate, a ?35 & later sold it to Andrew Lidden so I don't know if we will ever see it again! I have attached a couple of pix of it on Andrew's tilt tray when he picked it up.


NOTE - Click on a pic to enlarge it(one at a time)

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Perhaps Packard sold 1941 models in OZ as '42s, the side grilles on 1942 models are heavy horizontal bars.

... and it has 1941 hub caps as well. As MrPushbutton says, it's a 1941 that may be titled as a '42.

Guy's,

I thought I recognized it as a '41 too, but left the original description "as is" in case. I'll pass news of the confirmation back to the guy who sent me the pic and he can take it from there.

Tony came back to me today and advised "Thank you for the update & I will certainly pass the information on to Kevin. I also had a look at the ?forum' where you placed the photos & found it interesting."

Mal,
Good to see history, even when it is neglected and rusty.

Seems that many generals and admirals liked their Packards.
I've not seen Nimitz in Packard pictures. But the Packard Pride book shows Gen'l John J Pershing in his 30s Packard that was his daughter's wedding coach. Perhaps you have seen shots of a blackout 41 Clipper with the first General (Curtis Lemay?) of the US Army Air Corp (later Air Force) standing beside it. Packards were often Staff Cars and Private buggys of choice the world over.

DanL

General H. H. (Hap) Arnold was (in turn) commander of the U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Army Air Forces. At approximately the time that he was photographed standing next to his Packard Curtis LeMay would've been either a Lieutenant Colonel or full Colonel assigned to the 8th Air Force.

Loyd,
Thanks for the correction. It was 'Hap Arnold' I was trying to remember. Glad sombody is keepin' me honest.

Besides, Arnold looks better beside a Packard than Lemay would.

Hap Arnold knew Packard's engineering capabilities. He lead the P-51 Mustang project that put Packard built Rolls Royce Merlin engines in these fighters extending their escort range all the way back to the folks at 3rd Reich.

I wonder what it was like to 'drive Packards' and also 'fly Packards(in P-51s).' Arnold would have known. So would Joe Foss from here in South Dakota. He became an Ace in a P-51 and later owned a Packard dealership here in Sioux Falls.

Well, my appologies Mal. Now I am a far way from the 'Nimitz' history that you started this forum with. Have I hijacked this thread or wove history a little farther?

Hope it feels like the later. Might as well talk history. We will all become history eventually.

DanL

Meant to include this link for anyone interested in Hap Arnold's role in P-51 development with Packard built power.

www-rcf.usc.edu/~nagle/P51BC.html

Quote:

Dan,

I enjoy these little diversions or excursions, they add details most of us were not aware of in relation to Packards. So keep 'em coming.