1914 Packard Series 4-48

James Ward Packard purchased one of Alexander Winton's first automobiles. After finding several shortcomings in his new 1898 Winton, Mr. Packard told Mr. Winton about them. Mr. Winton did not agree with Mr. Packard's finding and told him that if he wanted his ideas incorporated in an automobile he should build it himself. With the help of his brother William and two former Winton employees (George Weiss and William Hatcher) Packard built his own automobile in November of 1899, followed by four more vehicles before the close of the year. 47 examples of a new 'Model B' were built in 1900 under the auspices of the New York and Ohio Company, a subsidiary of the brothers' Packard Electric Company, which manufactured transformers and electric lighting equipment.

The early Packards were single-cylinder runabouts with a two-speed planetary transmission with chain drive, and the automatic spark advance was a novel feature for the time.

The brothers formed the Ohio Automobile Company in their hometown of Warren, Ohio, on September 10th of 1900. Soon after they adopted the slogan 'Ask the Man Who Owns One.' A Detroit businessman named Henry B. Joy acquired the entire issue of 2,500 shares in 1902, at which time the firm became the Packard Motor Car Company. A year later, the company moved to Detroit where a new factory, designed by architect Albert Kahn, was being built.

Four-cylinder cars were added to the lineup in 1903, and by 1907 the Model 30 had been introduced which helped establish the Packard's reputation as builders of luxury automobiles. They would become one of the 'Three Ps' (along with Peerless and Pierce-Arrow) of prestige American automobile manufacturing and the only one of the three to survive the Depression. Their survival was attributed to diversification into medium-priced cars. After World War II, Packard continued to lead the American luxury market and was outsold by Cadillac only once before 1950.

The first Packard six-cylinder engine appeared in April 1911 in the Model 48, named after the rated horsepower of the 525 cubic-inch T-head powerplant. The engine offered a full 74 bhp at 1,720 and Packard advertised that it was capable of reaching '60 miles per hour in 30 seconds from a standing start.' It used Packard's float-feed carburetor with automatic mixture control and a Bosch dual ignition system. Prices began at $5,000 and reached nearly $7,000. Wheelbase sizes measured from 121.5- to 139-inches and thirteen factory body styles were available. During its introductory year, nearly 1,350 examples were sold.

The new 1913 Model 2-48 was introduced in mid-1912, offering eight additional horsepower, electric headlamps, and improved lubrication. The battery and toolbox were moved from the running boards to under the driver's seat, where the fuel tank previously resided, now resting in the rear. Early in 1913, the Model 3-48 was introduced with left-hand drive and a combination starter-generator. This model is sometimes described as the '1148' and the 'New 48.'

The 4-48 was introduced in February 1914, having a lengthened wheelbase to 144 inches and modifications to the engine. The displacement remained the same, but now had an L-head configuration, and instead of three blocks of two cylinders it now had two blocks of three and seven main bearings. Production continued for five months, through June 1914, with 441 examples built. Prices ranged from $4,750 to $6,510.

by Dan Vaughan

Touring
Chassis number: 63228

In 1900, James and William Packard formed the Ohio Automobile Co., located in their hometown of Warren, Ohio. They renamed the company in 1902 to the Packard Motor Car Company and subsequently moved the operations to Detroit. The touring model was their most popular body style. Prior to 1913, Packard's were powered by a four-cylinder engine.

1912 was the final year Packard built a four-cylinder production automobile as the following year would see the introduction of a new six cylinder car. Between 1913 to late 1915, Packard built six cylinder automobiles and in late 1915, a new V-12 engine would be built which was based on the designs of the Liberty V12 aircraft engine.

The 4-48 was a limited production Packard. Introduced in February 1914, only 441 4-48's were built. These were top-of-the-line automobiles, ranging in price from $4,480 to $6,100.

All 4-48's were built on a huge 144-inch wheelbase. Replacing the former T-head engine was a new, 525 cubic-inch six-cylinder 'Dominant Six,' that developed 60 horsepower.

Period advertising called the car 'The Boss of the Road.' The chassis was offered with twenty different body styles both open and closed. Packard Bijur electric lighting and starting was standard equipment as was a speedometer, clock, and air pump for inflating tires. Open cars were supplied with a Packard one-man top and Packard windshield. Prices ranged from $4050 for the Salon Touring car to $6150 for the Imperial Limousine.

Braking capacity was increased by the adoption of seventeen inch brake drums. Both front and rear tires were 37 x 5 non-skid. The six inch channel-steel frame was supported by semi-elliptic springs at the front and three-quarter scroll elliptic at the rear. Below the 18-inch diameter steering wheel was a box for ignition, lighting and mixture controls.

The new 4-48 helped built Packard's reputation as one of America's leading manufacturers of fine luxury automobiles, underscoring the company's famous motto, 'Ask the Man Who Owns One.'

This example was restored in the early 2000s. It was invited to the Amelia Island Concours and the Concours d'Elegance of America at St. John's in Plymouth, Michigan. The car is well equipped, with twin rear-mounted spares, a bulb horn and Elliott double combination clock-speedometer.

In 2012, the car was offered for sale at RM Auctions sale in Amelia Island, Florida. It was estimated to sell for $350,000-$425,000. Bidding reached $320,000 but was not enough to satisfy the vehicle's reserve. It would leave the auction unsold.

Runabout

'Ask the man who owns one.' That advertising slogan propelled Packard to fame and fortune. A customer had written to James Packard wanting sales literature. But, no literature existed so Packard told his secretary to tell the man whom to ask, and this spontaneous turn of phrase became a legend.

Before there were Packards there were the Packard brothers, owners of a successful electric lighting company in Ohio. James Ward Packard had treated himself to a new Winton. The car had problems and one day in 1898 James aired his complaints directly to Alexander Winton. Winton was a successful racer and auto magnate. He was also arrogant and supercilious, and no shrinking violet. Winton felt his cars were virtually perfect and he didn't take criticism well. He condescendingly advised Mr. Packard he should go build himself a better car if he could.

As they say, the rest is history. Packard's first single-cylinder car arrived in 1899. He launched the Ohio Automobile Co., later renamed it Packard Motor Cars, and relocated to Detroit. It was soon a prestigious luxury marque, competing with Peerless and Pierce-Arrow. A six-cylinder model debuted in 1911, designated Model 48 for its rated horsepower.

The fourth iteration, the 4-48, came along in 1914. It had a stout seven-main-bearing six-cylinder, an L-head configuration, and 82 horsepower.

From February through June of 1914, there were 441 units of the Packard 4-48 produced. Today, there are less than 10 that remain. The engine that powered the 4-48 was a six-cylinder unit that displaces 525 cubic inches and produced 82 horsepower. These cars were advertised as the 'Dominant Six.'

The engine was rather impressive, having an L-head design and seven main bearings. Braking was from seventeen-inch brake drums, which replaced the prior fifteen-inch units.

All 4-48 models, including the runabouts, rode on a 144-inch wheelbase and it is estimated that each car required over seventy man-hours to assemble each engine.

The Packard 1-48 for 1914 cost an astonishing 4,650 at a time when the average price of a new car was just $500.00 and the average yearly wage was $1300.

These cars boasted 37-inch tires over wood spoke wheels, electric head and side lamps, aluminum bodies, and the soon-to-be-standardized left-hand drive.

by Dan Vaughan

Touring
Chassis number: 63228

James Ward Packard purchased a 1898 Winton and found it to have several shortcomings. After expressing his dissatisfaction with the vehicle, Winton suggested that Packard should try his hand at building a motorcar. So, he did. He built 4 cars in 1899 and 47 cars in 1900.

On September 10, 1900, Packard and his brother William formed the Ohio Automobile Company in Warren, Ohio. In 1902, the firm became known as the Packard Motor Car Company. In 1903, it moved to Detroit, where a very large modern concrete factory was being built.

In 1902, Packard built two and four-cylinder cars, but it was a single-cylinder car that bettered Winton's coast-to-coast record in 1903. In 1907, Packard introduced the Model 30, helping to establish Packard was one of the premiere builders of luxury cars.