Packards at The Greenbrier

By: Dan Vaughan / conceptcarz.com

The automobiles built by the Packard Motor Car Company were celebrated at this year's Greenbrier Concours d'Elegance held in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, on the grounds of The Greenbrier resort. Nearly twenty examples from the storied marque were on display, with a 1923 Packard 126 Single Six Runabout being the most senior of the group. On the other end of that spectrum was a 1951 Packard 250 Convertible, one of approximately 2,572 examples built that year.

James Ward Packard built his first automobile in Warren, Ohio, in 1899. Detroiter Henry Joy became enthusiastically involved and moved the company there. His successor, Alvan Macauley, teamed with engineer Jesse Vincent to make Packard one of the finest automobiles in the world. Struggling to the end to build fine cars, the company was plagued by numerous problems, most significantly a poor merger. Although the marque name lasted until 1958, the last true Packard was built two years earlier.

The 1923 Packard 126 Single Six Runabout was a class winner in the Packard : Open category, and a 1938 Packard 1608 Twelve Town Car with coachwork by Rollston won the Packard : Closed category.

The Duke of Windsor Award, awarded to the 'Most Elegant Closed Car,' went to the 1938 Packard 1604 Super Eight Coupe by Mayfair. The Princess Grace Award for the 'Most Elegant Open Car' was awarded to the 1940 Packard 180 Custom Super Eight Darrin. The Eisenhower Award for the 'Best Cold War Era Car' was bestowed upon the 1946 Packard Custom Super Clipper LWB Sedan by Henney.

1923 Packard 126 Single Six Runabout

The 1923 Packard 126 Single Six Runabout owned by Dwight C. Schaubach is a restored example that has been in his care for over two decades. Packard introduced its Single Six in 1922 and continued into 1923 with few changes. The engine is the 268 cubic-inch L-head inline six-cylinder unit that had been stroked a half-inch from its 1921 form, and paired with a three-speed manual transmission. Packard offered two wheelbase sizes, with the 126-inch version for coupes, runabouts, and close-coupled sedans. The longer bodies of the seven-passenger sedans and tourers rested on the 133-inch platform. The former Light Six had been discontinued with the debut of the Single Six.

1938 Packard 1608 Twelve Town Car with coachwork by Rollston

A new V-12 Packard model was introduced in 1932, powered by a 67-degree V-block displacing 445 cubic inches. Named the Twin Six, its name was changed the following year to simply Packard Twelve. Two years later, the engine displacement rose to 473.3 cubic-inch producing 175 horsepower. The Twelve received a coil-spring independent front suspension and hydraulic brakes in 1937.

The Packard 1608 Twelve, owned by Bob Tiffin, is one of three known survivors and wears body style 495 - a Town Car. The 473.3 cubic-inch engine is paired with a three-speed selective synchromesh manual transmission, and the 139-inch wheelbase chassis carries coachwork by Rollston, a New York City coachbuilder, who was renowned for building some of the finest and most expensive coachwork on the Packard chassis. The formal Town Car is a chauffeur-driven automobile with formal rooflines, open front seats, and fine interior trim.

1938 Packard 1604 Super Eight Coupe by Mayfair

The 1938 Packard 1604 Super Eight Coupe with coachwork by Mayfair is owned by Ralph Marano. The car was originally ordered by a European shipping magnate, received coachwork from the Mayfair Carriage Company in London, and after World War II, was neglected. It was used as a chicken coop before it was rescued by an American Naval Officer who brought it to the United States, and it has since been restored to its former glory.

1940 Packard 180 Custom Super Eight by Darrin

1940 Packard 180 Custom Super Eight Darrin

The 1940 Packard that won the Princess Grace Award is a Darrin-bodied convertible owned by Greg Ornazian. Packard had introduced it's Eighteenth Series to the public in August 1939 with ads stating, 'The more you look . . . the more you'll want one.' The Super Eight, the only Senior Series for 1940, was divided into two lines, with the One-Sixty Series taking the place of the previous Super Eight and the new Custom Super Eight (Series One Eight) was now the flagship in place of the discotniued V-12. Both were powered by a revised L-head straight-eight-cylinder of 356 cubic inches, which developed 160 horsepower at 3,500 rpm. Senior Packards shared three chassis lengths, 127-, 138-, and 148-inch wheelbases.

Mr. Ornazian's Packard has styling by Howard 'Dutch' Darrin with the iconic cut-down 'Darrin dip' doors and retains its original body, chassis, engine and drivetrain. It recently received a frame-off restoration using an original 1940 color choice of Sea Cloud Gray.

1946 Packard Custom Super Clipper LWB Sedan by Henney

The Packard, owned by Don Wood, is one of 1,291 LWB (long wheelbase) sedans built in 1946. It is believed to have been sold new by the Earle C. Anthony dealership in Los Angeles to the Hughes Corporation. The current caretaker acquired it in 2007 and treated it to a three-year restoration. This is one of five LWB 1946 Packard sedans known to survive. It is complete with Henney Custom coachwork and features a 148-inch wheelbase.

The 2023 Greenbrier Concours

The 2023 Greenbrier Concours d'Elegance was held on May 8th, 2023, with approximately eighty vehicles in eleven curated classes in attendance, displayed on the picturesque show field surrounding the iconic front entrance of The Greenbrier. The judges selected the 1928 Auburn 8-115 Speedster owned by Richard Harding as their favorite, earning it the Best of Show trophy. The bright green Speedster was built by the Auburn Automotive Company in Auburn, Indiana, to a design penned by Alan Leamy. The cars featured a raked windshield, doors and hood louvres, all to give the impression of speed, along with the famous 'boat tail' rear end. This Auburn was found by Harding's father resting in a field of weeds in New Paris, Ohio, in 1992. He spent many years working on it and searching for parts. After his father's death, Harding began a frame-off restoration, completing all the work himself, with the exception of paint and upholstery.