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

Quote:
I hate to seem picky but the 1932 902 Packard featured in the Packard Pride book is one owned by Gen'l George Patton not Gen'l "Black Jack" Pershing. The car was up for sale on Ebay about 2 years ago or less as I recall. Wish I had the money to buy it since owning a piece of Patton memorabilia would be an honour.

Yes, 'Patton.'
Again, Thanks for keepin' me honest.

I am almost as embarrassed as the guy who put a 1948 Packard in the Movie 'Patton' in a WWII time sequence.

Glad somebody else reads all the good Packard books out there. I enjoy them too. Just can't all my dusty Ps (Patton, Pershing, ..) straight w/o the book in front of me. (I'm 600 miles from home).
But thanks to Big Kev, I still have great Packard Forums at my fingertips on PInfo.

Keep Enjoyin',
DanL

And the 1940 160 Limo assigned to Admiral Nimitz when in Washington, DC is alive and mostly well with a friend of mine, still with Naval serial number painted on the underside of the hood.

There's a lot of Packards in history. I have book that has President Truman riding on a Packard, as well as, a presidential candidate, whose name escapes me now, of the 1940's. I'll see if can dig out the pictures when I get home.

Perhaps you're speaking of the picture of Tom Dewey riding in a 22nd or 23rd series Custom 8 victoria.

Unless my memory fails me I believe that President and Mrs. Truman both arrived at the White House to take up residence and departed from it in Packards.

Certain key individuals in the Eisenhower administration had close ties to GM, pushed the, "one source," concept for military purchases and were at least rumoured to be instrumental in PMCC losing its contract for the J-47 jet engines that were manufactured for the USAF at the Utica plant.

I have a book at home on Presidential Automobiles. Can't recall the exact title or author. I think Truman didn't get a new limo and preferred Chryslers for personal transport. I am sure he rode in his share of Packards, including the photo op mentioned. I believe a Lincoln/Contintental was built for Eisenhower. After the assassination of John Kennedy, open cars for presidents were a thing of the past. The bullet proof limo was here to stay.

(I am sure there as errors in above recollections. So who will keep me honest this time, guys?)

All of these cars are out of my league. There is a certain fascination with the old limos. Now a days, if it isn't stretched to 35 ft it isn't attracting attention (Give them a block and they can turn this 'Hummer Limo' around.)

Sorry, I am ranting. Must be on a sugar high. Anyway back to Nimitz, glad to here his 'taxi' is still around.

DanL

The last Packard bought new for White House service was a 1951 Patrician 400 (2406) by Derham purchased in the Truman Administration but apparently retired shortly thereafter in favor of Lincolns who offered special incentives.

Source of this information is an article on White House Packards published by the Smithsonian which I'll add to this site under Misc. articles. Hope you enjoy.

Owen_Dy..

Thanks for the article. You are always good for the details.

packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/article/view.article.php?230

Check it out here on PInfo, History Fans.

DAnL

wrong - Harry Truman was VERY proud that he drove away from the White House no richer than when he got there. Made a special point of buying his own car. Was a '52 Chrysler Imperial. He still had that Imperial when I met him in '59 as a research student at his library just east of St. Louis.