125th Anniversary Packard Show at LeMay – America’s Car Museum

Saturday, September 21, 2024 | 9:30 AM

In honor of Packard Motor Car Company’s 125th anniversary, America’s Car Museum invites all Packard owners to bring their vehicles to ACM on Saturday, September 21 for a special display. In addition, all CCCA Classics are welcomed to participate in the celebration taking place on the Anderson Plaza in front of the Museum. Visitors will also have the opportunity to gander at a unique selection of Packards parked inside the lobby of the Museum.

A brief history of the origin of Packard:

This show honors the production of he first Packard automobile, which left a Warren, Ohio factory on November 6, 1899.  James Packard built the car after he attempted to share complaints about his new Winton Motor Carriage with founder Alexander Winton. Winton declined to listen, instead challenging Packard to build a car better than his. Packard did just that, eventually going on to produce vehicles that rivaled the most luxurious in the world.

The following September, James and his brother William founded the Ohio Automobile Company to build Packard cars. On October 13, 1902 they changed the name to Packard Motor Car Company. While many automobiles were selling between $500 and $1,500 at the time, Packard focused on the luxury market. The starting price for a Packard in 1903 was $2,300, about $82,000 in 2024. The company continued building high end cars through the 1910s and into the 1920s, when it really hit its stride. Throughout the roaring ’20, many saw Packard as the pinnacle of automotive luxury. These cars could be found in the driveways of movie stars, royalty and other ultra-wealthy folks.

The final Packard would eventually roll off an assembly line in 1958. In the decades since, the marque has secured a loyal following and vehicles remain highly collectible. We look forward to celebrating the 125th anniversary of that first Packard on September 21.