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Packard was founded by brothers James Ward Packard , William Doud Packard and his partner George Lewis Weiss in the city of Warren OH. James Ward believed that they could build a better horseless carriage that the Winton cars owned by Weiss (An important Winton stockholder) and James Ward, himself a mechanical engineer, had some ideas how to improve on the designs of current automobiles. By 1899, they were building vehicles. The company, which they called the Ohio Automobile Company, quickly introduced a number of innovations in its designs, including the modern steering wheel and years later the first production 12-cylinder engine.
While Ford was producing cars that sold for $440, the Packards concentrated on more upscale cars that started at $2,600. Packard automobiles developed a following not only in the United States, but also abroad, with many heads of state owning them.
In need of more capital, the Packard brothers would find it when Henry Joy, a member of one of Detroit's oldest and wealthiest families, bought a Packard. Impressed by its reliability, he visited the Packards and soon enlisted a group of investors that included his brother-in-law, Truman Newberry. In 1902, Ohio Automobile Company became Packard Motor Car Company, with James as president. Packard moved its automobile operation to Detroit soon after and Joy became general manager and later chairman of the board. The Packard's factory on East Grand Boulevard in Detroit was designed by Albert Kahn, and included the first use of reinforced concrete for industrial construction in Detroit. When opened in 1903, it was considered the most modern automobile manufacturing facility in the world and its skilled craftsmen practiced over eighty trades.The 3.5 million ft plant covered over 35 acres and straddled East Grand Boulevard. It was later subdivided by eighty-seven different companies. Kahn also designed The Packard Proving Grounds at Utica, MI.
Throughout the nineteen-tens and twenties, Packard built vehicles consistently were among the elite in luxury automobiles. The company was commonly referred to as being one of the "Three P's" of American motordom royalty, along with Pierce and Peerless. Packard's leadership of the luxury car field was supreme.
This very nice 160 Touring Sedan is in truly very good condition the paint and chrome are exceptional-probably owing to the fact it has been a California car its entire life- it was sold new at Earle C Anthony and just came to the Midwest. Unfortunately the moths got to the interior, so that will need some refreshing. The car runs and drives quite well. We had major engine work performed by a reputable mechanic prior to selling the car to a local client about 2 years ago. He wanted to make it as reliable a touring car as he could and added LED lighting, turn signals, and new set of Wide Whites Radials. He obtained a nice steering wheel, and was planning on having the headliner replaced and seats recovered but he unfortunately passed away last month, and we are now offering the car on behalf of his estate.
This is a very nice driving example you can immediately enjoy and improve over time. Really the interior is the only thing remaining to do here to have a pretty stand up example, and certainly it looks very impressive as is going down the road.