The ‘American Rolls Royce’
“Packard was really the American version of the Rolls Royce,” Signom said. “The line was built on quality, which coined their sales term, ‘Ask the man who owns one,’ ” he added. “John Patterson of NCR was also a key player in this dealership being so successful. When the 1913 flood hit, Patterson contacted Packard, needing trucks to haul away the dead animals. Three days later, train cars arrived with eight Packard trucks and barrels of fuel and oil.
They were used around the clock for three weeks to clear the debris and bodies. After that, Patterson issued orders that NCR would only purchase Packards for company use.” While other car companies went out of business in the depression, Packard was introducing their line of Packard Juniors, cars with the same quality, but smaller, less powerful and less expensive. In 1934, Packard only sold 5,000 cars. When the Junior line came out in 1935, they sold 55,000 cars.
By 1937, Packard was building more than 100,000 cars a year. Ending production in 1958, Packard brought a rich history of style, quality and power to the American road. It lives on today at 420 S. Ludlow St. in downtown Dayton. America’s Packard Museum is open daily from noon to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and $4 for students. For more details, go online to www.americaspackardmuseum.org .