Fire @ America's Packard Museum

[CarFreak]

Always sad to hear stories like this.  And the cause, vandalism, makes it all the more upsetting. 

 

 

 

Scroll up to the top of the page - this link is taking you to the comments section.

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2015/11/18/fire-destroys-cars-at-americas-packard-museum-secondary-facility/?refer=news#comments-block

 

http://www.whio.com/news/news/local/crews-on-scene-of-fire-in-harrison-twp/npP4R/

Edited November 20, 2015 by CarFreak (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

Any loss like that is regrettable.  They indicate that

some cars were saved, however.

 

Note that the article does not say that vandalism was the determined cause.

Their information was sketchy at that early date.

And "reports say" that the fire was likely caused by human activity

(in an adjoining business?) and POSSIBLY vandalism.

 

I hope further details may bring some better news.

Thanks for keeping us informed, Mr. Carfreak.  

Edited November 20, 2015 by John_S_in_Penna (see edit history)

[John_S_in_Penna]

AACA national editor West Peterson is from Dayton,

and he is a Packard fan, so he may be able eventually

to offer us some more specific knowledge.

[supersix]

The fire wasn't actually at the museum. It was at a warehouse that housed some cars that the museum owned. Nevertheless, a sad story.

[Larry Schramm]

Interesting that in the second picture it looks like the left front tire still has air in it. 

 

Hopefully the fire did not damage too many cars too bad.

[JACK M]

I'm not sure that the second car pictured even looks burned,

Note that it is disassembled, looks like it has had a rough life is all.

[West Peterson]

As mentioned, the fire was not at the Museum itself. It was a storage location elsewhere. While I do not know for sure, I'm fairly certain that there wasn't any great loss. Anything of great historical value was stored in the museum itself and is unharmed. I'm not speaking with complete knowledge of what was in the building, but I'd be very, very surprised if there was anything "rare" and irreplacable in there.

The Hemmings blog mentions at least twice about a "Packard Imperial" that was towed over to the British Transportation Museum. I don't even know what a "Packard Imperial" is. Anyone?????

[MyJetstar1]

At the risk of sounding insensitive to the community, that warehouse was in a pretty rough part of town. Having done a Caribbean or two, if memory serves me, that facility was more of a storage area for donor Patrician's, 400's, and Clippers for the use in more historically significant restorations. While I'm sure some decent parts were lost, I don't know of anything too valuable having been there, and certainly not a smart move, if there were.

[alsancle]

Hemmings would have a better idea if the car was of a late 80s or early 90s vintage.  A Packard is not in their wheelhouse.

[Guest bkazmer]

 don't even know what a "Packard Imperial" is. Anyone?????

 

The news report shows them towing out a Chrysler Imperial hardtop

[K8096]

I've been to that museum several times.  There are a couple unheated storage buildings behind the main museum building used for storing parts & unrestored cars.   The museum is in a rough part of town, just on the outskirts of downtown Dayton.  I know some people have loaned their cars out to be displayed on the museum floor (a former Packard dealership, and very nicely restored), but my fear was always the part of town it was in and how secure the area was.       

[West Peterson]

I wouldn't say that the museum is in a rough part of town, and there is only one storage building next to the Museum. The storage building that burned is in sort of a rough neighborhood several miles away.

[junkyardjeff]

I never knew they had the other building north of town,as for that Imperial I think there was a Chrysler Imperial there and seen one on a trailer heading towards the museum right after the fire.

[ScarredKnightfan]

Tough to see the fire, regardless ... but, I'm just glad it is NOT this Packard Museum:

http://postcardsfromtheroad.net/afton.shtml

 

 

Cort www.oldcarsstronghearts.com

pigValve, paceMaker, cowValve | 1979 Caprice Classic (awaiting new owner)

"We've been hurting one another & now the pain has cut too deep" __ Annie Lennox __ 'Walking On Broken Glass'

[Terry Bond]

Sad - would like to know more about the British Transportation Museum - sounds interesting (of course if you like LBCs (Little British Cars).

Terry

[Guest AlCapone]

It is always a tragedy when any part of history is lost because of course it can not be replaced. Buildings yes, antiques no. Wayne

[West Peterson]

How do you replace an historical building that has burned down?

[Guest bkazmer]

I take your point, but there are examples - Warsaw's old town, St Stephen's in Vienna