Packard Automobile Club of Australia
History of The Packard Motor Car Co.
The Packard Story begins in 1898, Mr James Ward Packard and William Doud Packard, with their engineering minds decided to purchase a early Winton automobile, hearing that they were made by a man by the name of Winton. They set out to Cleveland to went to see Mr Winton and purchased a motor carriage. After the purchase of the Winton it is said that James Packard had numerous problems with the vehicle which required numerous repairs. On one occasion when Mr Packard returned to visit Mr Winton he suggested a number of improvements which could be done to improve his line of vehicles. Maybe Mr Winton had a bad day or was sick of the complaints of Mr Packard and responded by saying something down the lines of “ Well, Packard, If your so smart, why don’t you build one yourself.” James Ward took this advise and ... that is how the Packard marque began…
Whilst visiting Winton he spoke to Mr G. Weiss and mentioned the conversation between himself and Winton. In April 1899, James Ward Packard contacted George Weiss again suggesting that they start their own automobile company. G.Weiss left Winton and an agreement was reached between the two Packard brothers plus George L. Weiss and W.A. Hatcher. The partnership was named Packard and Weiss.
James Ward set aside a section of the Packard Electrical Plant and all involved began graphing and designing their new automobile creation. After much hard work and many hours of love and labor, on November 6th 1899 the first Packard known as the model A chugged along the streets of Warren Ohio. Within 1899 there were a total of 5 Packard built.
Packard began producing automobiles under the name of the Ohio Automobile Company.
Spring 1900 Packard introduced its second automobile Model B, there were 49 of these models built. In the following years up to 1903 there were more than 260 vehicle produced by the company
In 1903 the directors of the Ohio Automobile Company decided to more the plant to Detroit. Packard directors also decided to change the name of the company to the "Packard Motor Car Company" to disassociate the company with any geological aspect.