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How many Packard Dealerships in your area


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<img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Onething I think that gets overlooked in the loecation of old Packard Dealerships. This thread is being devoted to that and nothing else. How many dealerships and the towns that they where located in can you name. I am going to a wet Hershey on Friday hope to see some answers in the morning before I leave.

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Guest Kevin AZ

John S......nice change of pace! Here is what I've learned about Packard Agencies from Arizona.

First and most prominent was Bowyer Motors of Tucson Arizona, of course!!!!

Burns Motors, Coolidge, AZ

Escapule Motor Company, Douglas, AZ

Scotty's Garage, Gila Bend, AZ

Shaw Motor Company, Globe, AZ

Duke's Auto Repair, Kingman, AZ

West Coast Auto, Nogales, AZ

T&S Motor Company, Mesa, AZ

Randall Brothers Sales & Service, Mesa, AZ

Allen Pederson Packard-Willys, Phoenix, AZ

Packard Phoenix Motor Car Company, Phoenix, AZ (Owned By Bowyer Motors of Tucson)

Del Kuehne Motor Company, Prescott, AZ

Mountain Motors, Prescott, AZ

Prescott Motor Company, Prescott, AZ

Beebe Motor Company, Inc., Safford, AZ

Tucson, Bowyer Motor Company

B.G. Motors, Willcox, AZ

Billie Adair, Yuma, AZ

Savageau Motor Company, Yuma, Az

Interestingly enough, the first Packard agency in Arizona was Bowyer Motors of Tucson in 1926. Phoenix, our state capital, 120 miles to the north didn't get an agency until 1929. Packard executives from East Grand made Shadwell Bowyer 'relocate' to the north. Shadwell was quite the interesting fellow & a native of Great Britain, until he moved to the great southwest as a cowboy and ranch-hand in the early 1900's to Oracle, AZ.(20 miles north of Tucson)

More to follow if anyone is interested!

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Hmmm....good question...Let's see what I can remember about my child-hood in the Los Angeles area...up on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, was PACKARD OF PASADENA, where my good friend and Packard Twelve engine expert E. C. "Charlie" Last worked after he returned from Navy service durnig the war.

On Western Ave, in Los Angeles, was Frost And French. Around 1949, they had a literally "new" late 1930's Packard Twelve for sale...I remember...they wanted four hundred bucks for it, AND our "120", and my dad walked away shaking his head...instead, we bought a year old Clipper Custom.

Further north, on Hollywood Blvd, was PACKARD HOLLYWOOD - show-room when I was last there...full of new Merceds. To the west, on La Brea ave, was Packard La Brea.

Down-town, was the multi story elegant EARL C. ANTHONY building. Our in the farm-lands where we lived, in the San Fernando Valle, on Magnolia Blvd ( the building is still there )...was Packard North Hollywood.

Pete Hartmann

Big Springs, AZ

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Great, change of pace, thread! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I do remember going to the Packard dealer in San Diego (maybe it was National City since we lived in Chula Vista at the time) when I was 11. I don't remember the name of the dealership (sorry). Regular readers of this chat room will recall that I stated before that my dad owned a 1951 Packard Patrician and 1955 Clipper Super 4dr. This new car intro was for the 1955 model year. We were all blown away (to use a current term) by the look of the "new" Packards. Myself and my sis (9 at the time) were jumping up and down (like kids do) clamoring for my Dad to "please buy one!" Well, on a Chief Petty Officer in the USN at the time, he couldn't afford it, although he did want to buy one.

Some years later in 1961, when Packard & Clipper prices were really low, his dream was realized when he bought his used 1955 Clipper.

Sorry, I strayed from the original intent of this thread. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/smirk.gif" alt="" />

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The Packard Dealer in my area was the New Bedford Packard Co., 175 Ash St., New Bedford, Mass. The place was run by Mr. Stanley Ennis. They sold a lot of Packards to people around New Bedford. New Bedford was a big Packard town. This was very surprising in the fact that New Bedford was in the 1950's and still is one of the poorest communities in Massachusetts. However, they always treated their customers well. That was the key.

In fact, on two seperate occasions I met the mechanics that worked there and they are still alive. One at a Car show at a Nursing Home. He came over to my '55 Clipper and said, "I used to work on these". "Oh you must have worked for Stanley Ennis", I said. He went on. In the course of the discussion I told him that my Father had had both a 1940 110 and a 1951 200 Deluxe. He said, "Wait a minute I know who you are, your Frank Bosworth's son. Your father used to work for Plumbers' Supply Co. I rebuilt the engine in his 1951 Packard right after he bought it (June, 1955)because it was using a little oil".(this was done with no charge and was supposedly warranteed from Packard) This man recalled something he did some 41 years before from vivid memory after all the cars he worked on in his life. Thats not all. He told me other stories about certain Packards around New Bedford.

The second man I met at a Funeral, he also worked for Mr.Ennis at New Bedford Packard. When he saw the Clipper he came right over and introduced himself. I told him who I was. "Are you any relation to Frank?" I said, "I'm his son". "It figures", he said "That you would own a Packard".

This the kind of dedication of the employees that made this Packard Dealer a success in this area. That dedication still was there 40 years after the last real one went down the assembly line at Conner Ave.

Bob Bosworth

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E. Grey Smith Packard. 1200 Broadway Nashville Tn. Smith also sold RR,Bently,Jag. As far as i know he was the only Packard dealer in middle tn. area. Still serviced Packards up thru 1971 that i know of and maybe later. He is no longer in business as of about 1978.

Hey!!! we dont want to forget Kanter of Boonton Joysy!

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My Clipper was sold by Wolff & Sons Studebaker-Packard in Cardston, Alberta, Canada. Actually, the car ended up as the personal vehicle for dealership owner Harvey Wolff. It stayed in the Wolff family - eventually a derelict behind the old dealership - until the 1980s when it was rescued and restored. Actually, the Cardston Studebaker-Packard dealer's main business was tractor sales. They were the distributor for Massey Harris farm machinery which was in more demand on the great plains than Packards.

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My 1955 Clipper-Custom Constellation originally came from a Studebaker-Packard Dealer in Middleborough, Mass. It was purchased by the Savard family that had an Oil business on Routes 18 & 28 in N. Middleborough. Ironically, 41 years later after I bought the car, a good friend of mine John Remedis who also D.J.'s Cruise Nights told me that when he was a kid a family that lived across the street from him in N. Middleborough had a Car like mine. I asked what there name was and he said Savard. Oh, on the Dash of my car there is a P.A.C. plaque with the name Paul Savard on it. Johnny saw the Plaque "What?" This can't be the same car. It used to be Yellow & Black. I scraped a small setion of paint in a Door Jam to prove the car had been originally that color combo. It was indeed the same car Johnny had saw new when it came from the dealer.

There is more. About 3 months after buying the car an older gentleman appeared at my door. His name was Jack Graves, who has since become a very good friend. He bought the car in the mid 1960's from Paul Savard who, in the meantime, had gotten the car from his father. When Jack had the car it was all black. Then another interesting turn of events happened in the fact that when Jack told me that when he had the car he lived in Mattapoisett, Mass. on Brant Island Road. Wait a minute, Your not the guy who lived next to Don Gregory who owned a Black & White 1955 Patrician. You also owned a beautiful Rose & White 1956 400 didn't you along with a black Clipper? Yes he did. He then told me that the black Clipper was the very same car that I now owned. It floored me. I could remember this car 30 years before, never once in my wildest dreams did I ever believe I would own it. This car was litterally around the corner from me. I used to go to Don Gregory's house all the time with my Dad. Further, Mr. Gregory and I are still friendly.

Jack Graves grew up with Packards too. When he was a kid he lived in Newport, R.I. on an Estate. His father was the Chauffer and drove big classic Packards.

In an other twist of events Paul Savard and I became friendly also. Jack, Johnny, Paul, Paul's brother Jerry and I along with the Packard had a nice re-union. I've had the Pleasure of knowing anyone thats ever had anything to do with the car. No one ever said anything bad about it either.

Paul Savard was one of the founders of North Atlantic Packards. My 1955 Clipper is the first car to be in that chapter of the P.A.C., according to him.

There is still more. There is a 1955 Mass. Plate. This License Plate has never been affixed to any other make of car but a Packard. It was the License Plate that had been on my Father's 1940 110 4 door sedan and on the 1951 200 Deluxe 4 door. Its now refurbished and is proudly on the front of my 1955 Clipper-Custom. It was like the Plate was waiting for the Car.

Bob Bosworth

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There was one major dealer in this area McMurria Motors of Columbus Ga. He started out as a Franklin/Nash dealer and took over Packard before WW II. I have spoken to his son a couple of times as he now lives in Greenville S. Carolina. The one interesting thing about this dealership is that in 1941 they took delivery on a 1941 Packard 180 Convertible for some cranky old General named George S. Patton, who was stationed in Ft. Benning just outside of Columbus. I have a photo copy of a picture of the car at delivery time with the mechanic who prepared the car for the general. The car still exists and was restored a while back and is currently owned by a MR. Pini, someplace up in Mass. The mechanic went to work for another dealership here and Mr Pini wrote to him on several occasions to get verification of the car while he was restoring it, even writing letters to G.S. Patton JR. who in turn responded back. I have copies of all of these as I contacted Mr Pini a few years ago and he graciously sent me copies of all the letters on the subject. McMurri closed up in 1954 and the Packard franchise went to Leon Jordan Studebaker and they in turn folded up in the 60's. The old McMurria dealership building is still standing and is currently being used as a wholesale grocery company. Would it not be a hoot to buy the place and restore it to a full dealership style car museum. Oh well another pipe dream gone up in smoke.

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Guest Randy Berger

My step-dad bought our 250 Mayfair from J.P. Mooney in McKeesport, Pa. It was the showroom car and they wanted to let it sit in the showroom as the hardtop style drew a lot of attention and it was the only one they had. Step-dad was adamant and wanted his car NOW! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/mad.gif" alt="" /> That's me just turned 16 with the Mayfair. I never remember that name. We always called it the 250. Maybe the dealer folks couldn't get away from the number designations. I still have the dealer's blue card with the paint code and key codes typed in. I still like the hardtop style as in my '56 400.

YFAM, Randy Berger <img src="/ubbthreads/images/icons/grin.gif" alt="" />

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The dealer/distributor for the Charlotte,NC area was C.W. Upchurch and Company. They distributed to about 27 dealers in NC.

An ad in a 1940 city directory said they had the only steam heated garage in town and it would hold 300 cars. After Packard went out they became a Mercedes dealer until they closed around 1965. When they closed they offered a friend of mine, who has been a Packard collector for many years, the inventory. He didn't really want it for what ever reason but they finally talked him into taking what was left of the Packard parts of which he still has some of.

My 40-120 came from a dealer by the name of Gibbs Machinery in Columbia, SC. They were a dristributor and had about a dozen dealers in SC.

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Guest dave327

Even little Lawrenceburg, TN had a small Packard dealership: Barnett Motor Company on Highway 64. The building is still there but is not in use. Apparently he sold Datsuns there in the 70's too. He had also sold Studebakers here and I met a grandson of his that has a 62 Avanti in the barn that belongs to his aunt. My barber, who just celebrated 50 years in the same location was a good friend of Mr. Barnett's son and he often tells me stories related to the Packards that they had in the 50's. Needless to say he gets all of my haircut business. Speaking of PackardV8 and E. Gray Smith in Nashville (about 75 miles north of me) the lady that I bought my 56 Patrician parts car stated that it was purchased new there although she had no paperwork for the car any longer. SHe did find a bill of sale of their brand new '41 model on E. Gray Smith paper.

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My 1938 Super8 5 passenger coupe was bought new from Bush-Morgan Motor Co. 1095 East Colorado Street, Pasadena, CA (orig bill of sale). I would be interested to find out more about that dealer!

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Funny story about the topic. One day I took my Packard out for a spin and needed to stop at a plumbing supply store in Trenton, NJ. When I walked in the fellow behind the counter said to the effect, if you are here for service, you are 50 years too late. I was sort of stumped and asked what he meant. He then showed me the picture of the place and sure enough, it was a former Packard Dealership! I don't recall the name of the dealership, but it was located at 319 East State Street in Trenton.

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  • 1 year later...
  • 2 years later...

my 52 was bought about 100miles from where it is now in a town called wellsburo pa "spelling" out past potatoe city on route 6. ive also been told that there used to be one just up the road from me on route 417 in allegany ny roughly 2 miles from my house, the building is still there.

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My 1947 Packard was delivered by Wright Motors of Winnipeg Manitoba. The local dealer in what is now Thunder Bay, Ontario was Hill Motors who also sold Nash and International trucks. The building was demolished for a new strip mall about 15 years ago and I bought two of the beautifully made steel work benches for $40 each at the auction.

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From the people who brought you Detroit's Old Car Factories, here is a link to Car Dealerships in Detroit.

Photo of interior of the Grosse Pointe Packard dealer on this page:

page 2 Detroit's Dealers

(Sorry for linking, too many things to put into one post.)

Interior and exterior of Packard factory showroom, and listings from old phone book of all Packard dealers, in and around Detroit farther down the page:

page 1 Detroit's dealers

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Guest acboxer

Niklas Brothers sold Packards and later studebakers in Claton Pa 610-18 Seventh St.

The brothers were well respected for there service and knowledge of there cars Packard and later Studebaker

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Guest Randy Berger

The Niklas Brothers were in Clairton, Pa. and were still servicing Packards into the 60's. I bought parts of an exhaust system from them back then and the one Niklas brother came to several of Father Crowley's Packard get-togethers at Holy Angels church in Hays, Pa in the 90's.

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Guest Randy_G

I dont know if BigKev is going to post a page for all the Packard dealers of days gone by. But I would be happy to do it. I already have a page for the Factory and the Dealers would just be a bonus of really cool old buildings and Facts. E-mail me your tidbits of Knowlege and I will add them to the factory page for now. I got a good start with all the posting's here.

Randy_G

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Guest BigKev

Sorry I have been on the road for the last 5 days for business. I will put together a dealer page for the website. That way we can keep it updated. I will sort it by state.

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Guest BigKev

I went ahead and setup a section on the website called "Packard Dealers" off the main menu. This will allow you guys to add your known former Packard Dealer locations to the list at anytime.

Only things required are the Dealer Name and Location. Everything else is optional. You can also upload a picture of the dealership if you wish.

I figure it's best to allow you guys to add your own, that way I wont screw any of the facts up. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> I added one just to get it started. But I know next to nothing about it.

If this format works out we can use something similar to create other Packard related lists.

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