Packard Forum Index » General

12-15-18

Automotive News quoted the New York Times, " New Yorkers had to wait until March 17, 1940 for their first air conditioned taxi, a Packard." The 1940 Packard One-Ten, 6-cylinder models served as taxis.

Does anyone have an image of this air conditioned 1940 Packard One-Ten, New York City taxi?

Thanks,
archiveman2977

I would think an air-conditioning unit would really tax the 6 cylinder motor.

I think so, but given the constraints that New York City traffic imposed, I doubt it was much of a handicap.

I know of only 1 factory A/C 6cyl car and it was not a taxi. There may have been others, and yes, Packard did promote 6cyl Taxi's in 1941, but considering the cost of the A/C, a rare bird indeed whether for Taxi, or average Joe.

I was just reading an older article in Hemmings Motor News about a perfectly restored 1940 120 with factory A/C which indicated that the system was available on the 110 and 120 models for only a very short while after its introduction. After that, it could be added only to the 160 and 180. Oddly, though, the 120 with it was a later model which can be determined by the flattened rather than squished bumper ends and by the trunk emblem type. I suppose that the later parts could have been used as replacements during the restoration but otherwise it seems to indicate that the A/C option was available later than the article suggests.

12-21-18

Hi Packard Don,

Thanks for your info.

archiveman2977
Allen

Quote:

In 1940 PMCC announced there (page 4): "It is available on enclosed models of the sedan body type."

Attach file:

---

  (26.01 KB)

Yes, it was not available on open cars due to the trunk-mounted unit. The top folded into that area so no room for the A/C too.

Below is photo 235 (of 231-239) from this website's Photo Archives, for a 1940 Packard 120, 1801 Touring Sedan shown at Warren OH in 2007. This is NOT from a 1940 6 cylinder Taxi. This photo is my first inclination the air compressor is a 2 cylinder in-line. I imagined it to be one cylinder.

Attach file:

---

  (98.05 KB)

I am intrigued how the compressor pulley is attached to the shaft (straight key?) and how it is retained axially on the shaft (hex cap screw with washer and lockwasher?) in a drilled and tapped threads in the shaft end.