It was the last full day of summer, 2014, and a school night, but the invitation was far too attractive to pass up- dinner with Tom and Claire and a stimulating cast of dinner companions.
I could tell you about the table talk- some of it touched on ancient mysteries and secrets that some people are talking about now, long after the dramatic events. But I will spare you the boredom, or tell you the title of the book and the documentary film if you are interested and you can draw your own conclusions about some amazing events.
In the spirit of the series we were doing during the Car Show period, I have to tell you that Tom is a Packard guy. He waved me out to the garage during the cocktail hour before a most excellent dinner that featured a delightful shrimp salad, composed of diced vegetables from Claire’s garden, slow-cooked chicken, wild rice and fresh peas accompanied by Whole Foods artisan bread and followed by a delightful berry pie a la mode baked by Claire. Tom handled the rest of the culinary chores, but I was most interested in the 1955 Packard Caribbean convertible and the lovely cream-colored 1940 convertible coupe.
We almost missed dinner, talking about the scheme of George Mason to buy the consolidated Packard-Studebaker concern before his untimely death, and the forthright decision by new AMC Chief George Romney to walk away from the shambling disintegration of the famed Packard brand.
A key item was the folly of Packard’s purchase of the old Chrysler plant adjacent to their main assembly plant in Detroit. The goal was a laudable and visionary- the days of the multi-floor factory were passing and Packard intended to consolidate operations on one single floor, similar to the innovation by the Ford people at Willow Run.
The unintended consequence was that the Chrysler facility was too cramped, and the famed quality of the Packard marque suffered. Tom pointed out the problems in the body fit, and the disappointment in the ultimate driving product of the sleek design.
Purchase price of the Chrysler plant was $25 million, not an inconsequential amount of money in the mid-1950s- and the bottom line to the year for Packard was a net loss of…well, of course. $25 million.
Packard sunk into bankruptcy and receivership, and the factory is now the largest abandoned building and the most infamous example of industrial ruin in the United States. Once employing 40,000 workers and hosting a grocery store and two schools within its complex, the Packard Plant had been abandoned since 1957.
(The sprawling ruin of the Packard assembly plant. Photo Detroit Free Press).
Over in the corner of the garage was an immaculate 1966 Mustang convertible. I think we all have a weakness for the original Pony Car, the one that revolutionized the American auto market. I asked him if it was a new acquisition, and he raised his eyebrows.
“No,” he said with a smile. “I am the original owner. We heard about them when we were getting ready to PCS back from Istanbul where I was the attaché. We picked it up in New Jersey on the way back and have had it ever since. It was our basic transportation for years and years. I got a new coat of paint a few years ago but otherwise, it is stock and just as we bought it.”
“Wow,” I said with a whistle. “How many miles?”
“170,000, I think. It is a good car. We brought both my sons back from the hospital in it.”
“That is a great story,” I said. “I wish I had been able to keep my favorites.”
Tom smiled broadly. “It gets better. It is a tradition now. All the grandkids have been delivered home by Mustang convertable. When we go, I doubt if our sons will fight over the Packards. But I know they will fight about the Ford.”
“I would fight about all of them, Sir.”
“Come on in,: he said, preparing to turn out the garage lights. “I need to get the dinner ready. But I thought you might be interested.”
“We are car people, and you are absolutely right.”
Copyright 2014 Vic Socotra
www.vicsocotra .com
Twitter: @jayare303