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

Guscha

The "protective bonnet" of the Secret Service?

John Harley

John, as far as I see it is a common car without armoring. I think Howard (HH56) is correct in saying that the sheet metal was overproportioned in consequence of an underdeveloped technology along the lines of "a lot helps a lot".

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How to outperform two jetblack Packards One Eighty? Try to use a car twice as large!




[picture source: LIFE magazine]

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Before focusing on the above shown and doubtless wonderful Packards I would like to shoot a glance at the 1938 Cadillac V-16.

"...Two of these huge convertible sedans for 7-8 passengers were built by Fleetwood on a special chassis of 165" wheel base, powered by the mighty sixteen-cylinder engine. They were used up to the mid-fifties as parade vehicles and security cars by the occupants of the White House and their guardians..." [acc. to cadillacdatabase.org]

Dear Lord Keepers of the Privy Seal and especially sole heirs of Packard Twelve knowledge, if possible please spare me to tell that a Cadillac is just an opera showcase for bling bling but a Packard is a car for over-modest gentlemen and so on. Perhaps not for everyone but at least for me that turbine-smooth Cadillac is one of the crowns of US-built prewar cars.






[picture source: LIFE magazine]

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Here comes a detailed pic of one of the above shown Packards. It seems to show suspended armor plates. Am I right in thinking that the plates moveable or removeable?



[picture source: LIFE magazine]

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Is it the triviality of my question or is it the wonderful car that makes you silent?
However, it doubtless shows all signs to be a worthy carforce number one - resp. number two since the above shown additional plated Packard hasn't been equipped with handholds, extra footboards, sirens et cetera, perhaps a wolf in sheep's clothing.


[picture source: LIFE magazine]

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It's really hard to tell, but it does look like some sort of shielding in the 'down' position. I just wonder how it interacts with the actual window? Does the actual window roll down? do they just manually lift and fasten the shields when unhappy comrades surround the car shouting capitalist slogans or unhappy capitalists surround the car shouting communist slogans? Hmmm ... makes one wonder. I've seen extremely thick windows used, but not a separate shield.

Maybe it's just a 'blackout screen' for privacy?

The Cadillac pictured had the later flat head V-16 engine, not as pretty as the 1930-'36 version, but ran better.

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John, let's go for a spin.

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Dave, I have an answer for at least one of these questions. As one of the next pics will prove, the glass windows roll down.
Today a photograph of President Truman and the Packard with the unidentified shields.



[picture source: Life magazine]

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Both, the Packards and the Cadillac have been purchased for the motorcade of FDR. Two of them seem to be equipped with blackout lighting - the United States were at war in 1943, the year of origin of the below shown pics (the photograph above was taken 1945).



[picture source: LIFE magazine]

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