Arizona republican., 1922-01-29
RECALLS DAYS Of
Old PACIFIC"
BY e. r. ROBERTS
Vice President of Manufacturing
Packard Motor Car Co,


Not long ago, in the course OF
discussion such as might be held
among members Of the Old Timers
club. there came to my mind a very
interesting event, associated with the
early days of the automobile indus
try. 1t dates back to 1903 when the
Packard factory was located in War
rem, Ohio. and deals with the adven-
lures of "Old Pacific" a one cylinder,
nine horsepower Packard that had
been commissioned to make a trans
continental run from San Francisco
to New York
The start was made from San Fran
cisco. June 1S, with Il. Il. Fetch in
charge. and the finish took place
in frc mt of the Astor hotel, New York
SO days later. Between the two cit
les, stretched a trail OF experiences
such as never before had been en-
countered by motoring pioneers. The
transcontinental trips were just COM
ing into vogue in those days and
road maps We're unknown as self
starters. AS a matter of fact l re-
call that the only map available for
great part of the western half of
the journey was a Union Pacific
railroad map.
"Old Pacific was the first gaso-
line propelled vehicle to cross the
Nevada sands. Seven days were re-
quired to do the jos and to secure
traction everything that human in
genuity could suggest (from a long
strip of canvas to the floor boards
of the car itself was called into
pay. 1t was here that a supposed
ly experienced guide, taken on in San
Francisco, admitted that "the coun-
try was all new to him." very much
to the CONSERVATION of the other
members of the crew. Despite une
handicap. however. "Old Pacific" won
out and ultimately shook the dust
of Nevada off her wheels.
Even murders in those days were
of secondary interest to the appear
ance of an automobile. This was
proven in Carson City where a MUIR
der had occurred an hour or so be-
fore "Old Pacific" made her en-
trance to the town. The crowd, on
seeing the first motor car of their
lives, promptly left the scene of the
murder to witness sight less COM
mon.
If there was anything more diff
cult than the desert country of Ne
vada it was the gumbo and the muo
of Iowa. On one particular stretch
of road it required from O'CLOCK
night to travel 20 miles. Today with
the help of the Lincoln highway, a
Twin Six, successor of "Old Pa
cific." can make the 20 miles in
about II minutes.
The crew of the old pioneer had
much to contend with. So much. in
fact, that in a fit of weakness they
descended to mutiny and announced
that from certain point forward
they intended to choose their
own route. When this ultimatum
reached Warren, Ohio, and was de-
livered to S. d. Waldon. then Pack
ard sales manager and personally re-
sponsible for the supervision of the
transcontinental run, it was met with
smile and plan. Thence forward.
until "Old Pacific had emerged
from the territory in question. the
route was dictated very effectively
by wiring expense money only to
those towns through which the run
was to pass.
Once into the central west the GO
ing became easier and ii was only a
matter of time until "Old Pacific
pulled into New York with an es-
cort of some 200 enthusiastic mo-
torists astride their White Steamers,
Ramblers, Stearns Steamers. Pope
Toledos, etc. Truly it was a remark
able achievement and was so recog-
nized by the press of the land.
So far as the mechanical features
of "Old Pacific" were concerned they
were primitive. Yet they were adj
vanced in those days and formed
the basis or Packard quality and de-
such as we have today !
"Old Pacific" had nine horsepower. |
concentrated in one cylinder and she |
weighed, ready for the road. 5000 |
pounds. The brakes were adjusted |
automatically when the rear wheel |
assembly was moved back to take |
the slack out of the chain drive. The |
clutch consisted Of a cast iron plate |
that revolved between two steel ones. |
The wheelbase measured 80 inches |
and a governor limited the speed to |
r,aiIac hottrs