The first 2-door hardtop.

[Dave@Moon]

This weekend is the Ault Park Concours d'Elegance in Cincinnati. While looking over their web page for this year's show information I came across a car I saw there in 2002 that blew my mind. I'd mentioned it once before on the forum, but didn't have a picture of it or find one online until now.

I believe it may be the first true 2 door pillarless hardtop coupe ever. It is a custom-bodied 1915 Packard Twin-Six. It was built in 1915 (according to what the owner told me) for General "Blackjack" Pershing, and it was his personal car during WW1. If you look closely at photo below you'll see that there's a single central door on each side, and no "B" pillars. Except for the open door no side windows are visible. They were detachable and were stored in the car. It was a true custom body with a permenantly attached roof, not a touring car conversion with a California top.

I've looked often and not seen any other reference to this car online or in literature. The owner was 90 years old at this show, and he'd owned the car since 1950. His recently retired son had helped him restore the car (to a VERY high standard I might add), and I believe he said this was the first time it had been shown nationally.

It was a very touching story of a very important car. Has anyone else seen this car? Is it (I hope) in a museum by now? Is there an earlier true hardtop out there?

[Guest BruceW]

Thats a very interesting car. Definitely one of a kind.

I know that the Aberdeen Proving Ground Ordnance Museum has a 1917 Locomobile that is said to have been General Pershing's staff car during WWI. It is interesting in that it has dual rear wheels for traction over the practically non-existant roads (the dual rear wheels cannot be seen in the photo).

src="http://my.net-link.net/~dcline/military.jpg" /> <img

It is possible that General Pershing had more than one car assigned to him during WWI. Wikipedia states that a 1915 Dodge Brothers, serial No. 3066 was used by General Pershing during his 1916-1917 expedition into Mexico to capture Pancho Villa. However, you knopw how reliable the information on Wikipedia is.

I am wondering if perhaps the 1915 Packard was the car used in Mexico instead?

Just a thought.

[K8096]

I believe that car was restored in the mid 90's. I think there was an article on it in the AACA magazine a few years ago, and yes the restoration was a "family affair." I think I saw it at the Packard Centenial in Warren, OH in 1999. While it does have two doors, I really wouldn't refer to it as a two door hardtop. It's really more like a phaeton with a California top. I always thought the first American built hardtop was credited to the custom body builder Judkins, who built a one of a kind 1938 or 1939 Lincoln K pillarless 4 passanger coupe. It's restored & has been shown nationally recently. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few "hardtops" built by European coachbuilders earlier in the decade of the 30's though.

[Dave@Moon]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I am wondering if perhaps the 1915 Packard was the car used in Mexico instead? </div></div>

What the owner told me was that it was his personal car, i.e. the family car. He did also mention something about him liking to use it in parades because of the visibility (from the outside) it gave while still keeping him out of the weather.

And it is definately not a touring car with a California top. Compare it to this image of a 1915 Twin-Six Touring. That windshield/cowl is definitely from a closed car. I wish I had a rear view shot to show that the top is not applied. I spent about a half-hour studying this car, that roof is integral. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

[Jay Wolf]

I think your information as stated is correct.

The owner is a 92 year old member of The Lower Ohio Valley evansville Region (LOVeR). Charlie is still very active and has had the car for over 50 years.

He has a lot of Documentation on it, It has been restored for quite a while it was restored before we started the Region. Charlie and his sons just finish restoring and 55 Studebaker for him as a driver as the big Packard is getting to hard to turn for Charlie. (over 3 tons and big tires)

I think Charlie told me it was one of the first enclosed Packards.

Charlie is still very sharp and worth your time to talk to when you see him setting at at meet.

Here is a picture of the car with windows in and Charlie setting behind it.

http://beaver.vinu.edu/07-26-2003%20AACA-%20Metropolis/sm/PICT1939.html

Jay Wolf

President (LOVeR)

[Dave@Moon]

Thanks Jay. I'm glad to hear all's well with Charlie. His was one of the most memorable conversations I've had with a car show participant. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I see your site has an even better front picture of the car with an open/windowless door.

http://beaver.vinu.edu/07-26-2003%20AACA-%20Metropolis/sm/PICT1926.html