Wheels of the Week
America's Packard Museum
Saturday, February 14, 2009
It will be all Packards, all the time, on Feb. 20 and 21 when America's Packard Museum hosts the 16th annual Packard Winter Weekend at the museum in Dayton. The two-day affair offers a variety of events geared to Packard enthusiasts and also connects people with the local automotive community and history.
Friday afternoon kicks off with a tour of the Taj Ma Garaj, an eclectic collection of Porches and other memorabilia, or a tea and tour of the Patterson Homestead. There will be a reception hosted by D&D Classic Restoration in the evening, followed by a talk by Packard collector Marvin King, discussing the life of Carl Altz, Packard's iconic test driver of the 1930s who recently passed away.
Saturday morning is the garage sale at the museum, where hundreds of both new old-stock and used Packard parts will be available for purchase. Saturday afternoon features a guided tour of Carillon Historical Park, keying in on the Transportation Center, Deeds Barn and Wright Brothers Aviation Center. After a reception, silent auction and dinner, noted Packard collector and historian Dr. Charles Blackman will present a talk entitled, "How Packard Re-Invented Itself to Survive the Other Depression."
Rachel Lauver, assistant executive director, said about 100 people are expected to attend the event.
"It's our annual winter fundraiser, and a great winter weekend for car people."
America's Packard Museum, located at 420 S. Ludlow St. in Dayton, currently has about 46 automobiles on display. New cars on display include the 1904 Packard Grey Wolf racer that set the land speed record of 76 mph for the kilometer in 1904. The car is one of only five ever built. The racer also finished fourth in the Vanderbilt Cup Race.
Also on loan is Glenn Hamilton's beautiful 1909 Packard Model 18 Touring car, which has taken awards at various Concours events. Only about 800 of the cars were built between 1908 and 1911. The car sold new for $3,200, which in 1908 was more than most new homes sold for.
In the annex building is a bright blue 1958 Packard Hawk prototype. Packard had stopped selling cars in 1956, and all efforts were geared toward Studebaker, which Packard had merged with. Chief designer Stanley Pridchuk felt that they were missing the boat by not offering a convertible of the Studebaker Hawk, and had this prototype built, in an effort to relaunch the Packard brand with a sporty model. His idea failed, and Pridchuk was allowed to keep this car when he retired from Packard.
America's Packard Museum is open daily, noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. For more information regarding the Packard Winter Weekend, call (937) 226-1710 or go online to www.americaspackardmuseum.org.
To nominate your special vehicle for Wheels of the Week, contact us at: Wheels, Marketing Publications Department, Dayton Daily News, 1611 S. Main St., Dayton OH 45409 or via e-mail at arollins@coxohio.com. Include your name, daytime telephone number and a photo of your vehicle.
View photos from this story at DaytonDailyNews.com/WheelsoftheWeek.
