1912 Packard Model Thirty Racer

The first Packard was built in 1899 by the Ohio Automobile Company, later named the Packard Motor Car Company in 1902.

In 1903, Packard built its first race car, the 'Gray Wolf.' It was a lightweight and aerodynamic car powered by a 275 cubic-inch engine delivering 25 horsepower at 1000 RPM. Designed and driven by French engineer Charles Schmidt, its debut was in 1903 at races and speed trials and the Eastern U.S.

Packard continued to build race cars on and off for 30 years. Carl Fisher, a Packard Dealer in Indianapolis, was one of the four founders of the Indy Speedway, resulting in several cars participating in the Indy 500 over the years. The company fell on hard times after purchasing the Studebaker car company in 1954 and was gone by 1962.

This car was found in Argentina in the 1950s still in racing configuration. It is not known if this car was shipped to Argentina as a racecar, or converted into one there. It likely would not have survived the scrap metal drives of World War II if it had stayed in the United States.

It was shipped back to the U.S. shortly after its discovery where it resided in a shed, disassembled, in Southern California while the owner spent 50 years searching for parts to restore it as a touring car. It is now restored as it raced and is thought to be the oldest surviving Packard race car in existence.