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Steve, to consider a Ford at a Packard event as sacrilege would add another ism to the implied condition of Masonic membership.






[source: mtfca.com]

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The Ford probably belongs to one of the press people covering the event. I doubt Jimmy Olsen could afford a new Packard, and Lois Lane, of course, drove a Nash.

iirc, a constant gripe of Packard management was that, inspite of the employee discount they offered, many employees did not drive Packards.

"...photograph of two 1937 one twenties, with owner, wearing a Shriner's fez, pictured at the Packard plant. Inscribed on photo back; left; Packard one twenty, fifteenth series, model 120-C, 8-cylinder, 120-horsepower, 120-inch wheelbase, 2-person business coupe (body type #1098), note 1937 California license plate #MN-41-61, license plate frame, right; Packard one twenty, fifteenth series, model 120-C, 8-cylinder, 120-horsepower, 120-inch wheelbase, 5-person touring sedan (body type #1092), note 1937 California license plate #MN-41-57, license plate frame, setting Packard Motor Car Co. Detroit..."

Photo courtesy of the Detroit Public Library, National Automotive History Collection and used with permission.

<iframe src='http://texasarchive.org/library/index.php?action=ajax&rs=GLIFOSEmbedded&w=480&h=360&c=The_Sloane_Collection,_no._2_-_Shriners_Parade_on_Main_Street,_Houston,_1925&s=embedded&p=video1&b=0' frameBorder='0' style='width:495px;height:385px;border:0px;' width='495' height='385px' allowTransparency='true'></iframe>

"Among the earliest known footage of downtown Houston, this film features a large gathering of Shriners units from the region marching in a parade down Main Street. Captured are a number of marching bands, a motorcade of Packard sedans, and even a few elephants in the procession." [...and a Packard truck]



[source: texasarchive.org]

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Of course if the owner of the local Packard dealership was a Mason, as would be likely considering the class of customer he wanted, that would explain the number of Packard vehicles in the parade, as advertising, both for his dealership and his association with the Masons.

The Packard News June 1947

Not a drive away,but a LONG drive none the less, not sure of their affiliation to any organization either!

Enjoy,

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Hi Guscha

That 1906 Ford challenge entailed testing his big 405 ci six cylinder $2,500 Model K against the 349.9 ci four cylinder $4,000-5,225 Packard Model S or 24. One supposes the purpose of the friendly challenge was to show the Ford Model K was equal to and perhaps superior to the more expensive Packard.

Oddly enough, the big, relatively-expensive Ford Model K was the type of car Henry Ford did not want to build, being the opposite of "a car for the multitudes". The Model K remained in the product line through 1908 when it was dismissed along with the Models N, R and S with the advent of the Model T.

Henry Ford's disdain for the Model K included its six cylinder engine configuration which turned into one of his many obsessions. No Ford until the 1941 model was again powered by a six cylinder engine. Edsel slipped one into production ostensibly as a truck engine, which found its way into cars. Lore has it that old Henry never would ride in one, didn't knowingly do so for the rest of his life.

As we all know, Packard went on to build many marvelous versions of the six cylinder engine, the Single Six of the 1920's the springboard to their prestige car dominance in that decade. Old Henry was all wet when it came to sixes!

Steve

PS: That those Clipper Six Taxis were tough cars and were a favorite with patrons is completely plausible......but 20 mpg?!?! Well, after all, Packard News was going to spin any good news, maybe stretch the figures a bit.....!

Steve (Steve203), thanks for making it plausible. In the absence of own experiences I don't find an entry point to that issue.


[image source: weicherkeks.com]

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Let the rie decide, thanks for sharing this drive-(far)-away documents. I've read them with interest and was looking for related material, reporting of a test drive through Alaska. This time without success.

full stretch

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Steve (58L8134), that's a suitable cue. After stretching other interesting aspects, I try to steer the thread back to the driveaway events. Before showing another photographs, please find below a contemporary ad.



sources
image - busarg.com.ar
snippet - The Dispatch; May 18, 1949

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