Packard Panther

[clonelark]

Maybe some have seen this, I found this on the McCulloch VS-57 site





Some might say that this is an unusual choice for the racing McCullochs section of the site, however the first of the four 1954



Packard Panthers produced was raced at Daytona in 1954 turning an average of 110.97 mph, based on runs of 111.24 and 110.70 mph. More significantly in a later one-way run, using a racing type of windscreen instead of the standard windscreen, which was not officially timed, Dick Rathman claimed that he had clocked himself through the traps at131.1 mph. The Panther was Packard's first fiberglass-bodied car and was produced as a show car. Built on the 122" wheelbase, it used the 359 cubic inch straight eight engine of 1954. Boost was provided by a McCulloch which provided 275 horsepower.

[Chris Pile]

It's a slick mo-sheen for sure.

Chris Pile
Editor: The Studebaker Special
http://midwaystudebakers.tripod.com/

[studegary]

275 horsepower seemed to be the magic number for Studebaker-Packard (of course the Panther predates S-P).

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[jimmijim8]

Years ago in South Bend 1978 at the Freeman Spicer bldg. {I think at the time it was being used for storage of the Stude collection } I saw a Packard that if I remember correctly, was quite similar. Please correct me if I am delirious. Color was a dark brown. jimmijim

[studegary]

quote:Originally posted by jimmijim8

Years ago in South Bend 1978 at the Freeman Spicer bldg. {I think at the time it was being used for storage of the Stude collection } I saw a Packard that if I remember correctly, was quite similar. Please correct me if I am delirious. Color was a dark brown. jimmijim

I don't want to correct you because I do not think that you are delirious <G>.

I remember one showing up to at least one of the SDC International Meets that I attended.

Gary L.
Wappinger, NY

SDC member since 1968
Studebaker enthusiast much longer

[52-fan]

That windshield sure looks tall, but I guess it might help keep the wind off better than a more stylish one.


1952 Champion Starlight, 1962 Daytona, both w/overdrive.Searcy,Arkansas
"I may be lazy, but I'm not shiftless."

[FlatheadGeo]

Now...that is a CAR!!!!

1957 Studebaker Champion 2 door. Staten Island, New York.

[R2Andrea]

Here is the car you saw at the SNM.http://www.automotivehistoryonline.c...arddaytona.htm

R2Andy

Untill his collection was sold off after his death, Homer Fitterling had the largest private collection of Dusenbergs in the world. He also had quite a number of other vehicles in his collection, mostly classic era cars. The vast majority of his collection was kept at his farm, just a few miles west of town. You would have passed by it on SR2 on your way to or from the Studebaker Proving Grounds.

[r1lark]

quote:Originally posted by jimmijim8

Years ago in South Bend 1978 at the Freeman Spicer bldg. {I think at the time it was being used for storage of the Stude collection } I saw a Packard that if I remember correctly, was quite similar. Please correct me if I am delirious. Color was a dark brown. jimmijim

Yes, one of the Panthers was in the 'old' SNM. I took pictures of it in '88 during the SDC International Meet, but don't have access to the pics right now.

Paul
Winston-Salem, NC
Visit The NEW Studebaker Skytop Registry website at: www.studebakerskytop.com

[jimmijim8]

quote:Originally posted by R2Andy

Here is the car you saw at the SNM.http://www.automotivehistoryonline.c...arddaytona.htm

R2Andy

Untill his collection was sold off after his death, Homer Fitterling had the largest private collection of Dusenbergs in the world. He also had quite a number of other vehicles in his collection, mostly classic era cars. The vast majority of his collection was kept at his farm, just a few miles west of town. You would have passed by it on SR2 on your way to or from the Studebaker Proving Grounds.

Oh yeah, that's it. Thanks jimmijim

[Invalid User Name]

I guess that aerodynamics didn't count for much back then. That front end looks like it could wreck a wind tunnel.

Doug

1950 Champion 9G F1

[Roscomacaw]

On the whole, I think the car's attractive. But after staring at it for a bit, it occurred to me that the front of it looks like a Packard Hawk on the brink of a sneeze.[:0]

1957 Transtar 1/2ton
1963 Cruiser
1960 Larkvertible V8
1958 Provincial wagon
1953 Commander coupe
1957 President two door

[Bob Bryant]

Usually, you could see Homer's herd of buffalo grazing, also. In the 70's he had around 150 cars including one Corvette for each year manufactured. He loaned several of his Duesenbergs for display at the ACD Museum in Auburn.

R2Andy

Untill his collection was sold off after his death, Homer Fitterling had the largest private collection of Dusenbergs in the world. He also had quite a number of other vehicles in his collection, mostly classic era cars. The vast majority of his collection was kept at his farm, just a few miles west of town. You would have passed by it on SR2 on your way to or from the Studebaker Proving Grounds.
[/quote]

[clonelark]

The two different cars have different tail lights

[r1lark]

quote:Originally posted by clonelark

The two different cars have different tail lights

According to the writeup at the link posted (http://www.automotivehistoryonline.c...arddaytona.htm):


Paul
Winston-Salem, NC
Visit The NEW Studebaker Skytop Registry website at: www.studebakerskytop.com