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William G. Irwin who hired Clessie as a chauffeur was a rich man because Irwin's father made the family fortune in real estate and manufacturing.

Irwin hired Clessie as the family chauffeur sometime shortly before or during WWI. Clessie became more than just a driver for he became a good friend of the family. It seems than no other person than Clessie was allowed to work on the family Packard.


John F. Shireman

Hello,

That 26 Touring is absolutely not the car. Who do I contact for picture of the Diesel car on its original run ? Pictures do exist and I have seen them but do not know where ?

JMM

Yes, I've seen one or more pictures as well but can't quite remember where - perhaps in a back issue of The Packard Cormorant. As I recall it was a closed body style, not an open tourer.

Owen,

Pardon my ignorance, but is the Cormorant indexed for those years at all?
Does anyone (museum, library, organization) archive the Cormorant?

DanL

You'll find an index to The Packard Cormorant on PAC's website, but I've just been browsing it and thus far haven't found what we're looking for. But the picture(s) could have just been miscellaneous incidentals and not indexed. And the magazine is no doubt archived by the publishing organization, PAC, and many back issues are still available, see the PAC website. I also have with one or two exceptions every issue since 1964. You could also contact the editor of course. Also the prior editor, noted auto historian Dick Langworth. You might also want to contact the noted author on Packard engine history, Robert Neal. Or have you already explored these possibilities? Send me a PM if I can help with these.

800 miles from Indianapolis to Columbus? Would that be Columbus, Georgia?

I think the Packard that Clessie converted was a seven passenger Sedan Limousine body style 267.

John F. Shireman

JMM: As I said in a PM to you I do have an article about Clessie with a small picture of the Packard diesel.

Since you intend to give a copy of the picture to Robert Bosch Corp as a free-be to them. I am willing to make you a deal.

If I provide you a copy of the article that includes the picture what would you be willing to donate to Packardinfo.


John F. Shireman

Glessies employer William Irwin owned an electric railway that ran between Indianapolis and Louisville. One summer Glessie obtained some Pullman car wheels and converted Irwin's family Packard to be able to run on the railway tracks.

John F. Shireman

Hemmings Classic Car November 2009 edition has a nice one page article on Clessie Cummins.

John F. Shireman