Packard Proving Grounds Showcases Proud Auto History Selfridge Museum by Irena Granaas Excellence,” Said Davis
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PAGE 6 TECHCENTERNEWS-WARREN MAY 27, 2013 Packard Proving Grounds Showcases Proud Auto History Selfridge Museum by Irena Granaas excellence,” said Davis. Now Open for The site included a 2.5-mile The history of the Packard Mo- oval test track and a nearby tim- New 2013 Season tor Car Company is a quintessen- ing tower. Cars were brought in The Selfridge Military Air Mu- tially American story, highlight- from the Detroit plant by rail to seum is now open for business. ing the best aspects of our free the southwest corner of the Officials recently announced enterprise system, as well as property. The test track was the that the 2013 general public how far and how fast the mighty site of a world’s closed-course hours for the Museum and Air can fall. record of 148-plus mph, set in Park is noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sat- Detroit-based Packard, au- 1928 by racecar driver Leon Du- urdays, Sundays, Independence tomaker of choice for the ray. Day and Memorial Day, from wealthy and famous during the Next to the test track were April 6 through Oct. 27. first half of the 19th century, is miles of specialized roads used The Museum and Air Park can no more, but many samples of its to put the cars through their also be opened by appointment sumptuously designed and paces. These included a steep at other times throughout the meticulously engineered cars hill, mud pits, bumps, curves, year by calling 586-239-5035. survive. sand pits, a “washboard” road Visitors to the museum will Here in the Metro Detroit area, and railroad ties. After testing, see almost $6 million worth of car and history buffs are fortu- cars were driven to the repair A 1953 Packard Caribbean Convertible, donated by the original owner. displays, including a full-scale nate to be able to tour the garage for evaluation. The historically accurate replica of a Packard Proving Grounds, at Van garage’s exterior is Tudor-re- proving grounds in 1958 to build to exist, Davis said. World War I fighter plane, the Dyke and 23 Mile Road in Shelby vival fashion, but all industrial on jet aircraft engines. In 1961, the In 2002, Ford started a lease SPAD XIII; an interactive cutaway Township, thanks to the efforts the inside. property was purchased by Ford, grant program with the Packard and motorized World War II air- of many people who have been “As far as I know, the marriage which moved its trim operations Motor Car Foundation to launch craft engine; an interactive Air working to preserve the grounds of industrial and the Tudor-re- from Highland Park to the Prov- the restoration and perpetual Traffic Control radar display; an as a historic site and to restore vival Cotswold exterior is ing Grounds. care of the Proving Grounds. The extensive display of original avi- its original appearance. unique. We fought like crazy not “Ford was a wonderful steward Packard Proving Grounds are in ation art produced by noted avi- In an exclusive interview, to have these structures torn of this property,” Davis said. the National Register of Historic ation artists; a Korean War-era Hilary Davis, an author and down,” Davis said. As for Packard, by 1950 the Places as a Historic Site. “Jeep”; and three aircraft cockpit Packard Proving Grounds volun- The Proving Grounds also in- company’s golden age was com- Since Ford handed over the trainers – a modern F-16 “Fight- teer, laid out the Packard Motor cludes a hangar. Besides being a ing to an end. Davis explained keys in 2002, the foundation has ing Falcon,” a Vietnam-era A-7 Car Company and Proving maker of premium automobiles, Packard was adversely affected made landscaping improve- “Corsair II,” and a World War II Grounds timeline of events. Packard was also involved in the in the early 1950s by question- ments, painted the elevated wa- LINK trainer that guests can ac- Davis, who earned a master’s de- development of airplane engines. able management decisions, ter storage tank, moved the Lind- tually sit inside. gree in historic preservation “They made some ground- poor product quality and a re- bergh Hangar to its new founda- Other exhibits include a wide from Eastern Michigan Universi- breaking advances in airplane en- sulting loss of reputation. tion, re-roofed over 27,000 variety of military memorabilia, ty, is also a member of the Shelby gine design, and did a lot of Meanwhile, Americans began square feet of the garage and en- including weapons, aircraft en- Township Historical Committee. marine and airplane engine de- snapping up vehicles from Gen- gineering buildings and repaint- gines, military uniforms, military The Packard Motor Car Com- sign here.” eral Motors, Ford and Chrysler. ed exteriors and some interior aircraft models, and photo- pany began in 1899. Its manufac- Famed aviator Charles Lind- Davis noted that Cadillac began spaces. graphs spanning the more-than- turing plant was in Detroit, and bergh visited the Proving competing successfully for As a way of providng ongoing 96-year history of the National Packard did its road testing on Grounds on Aug. 15, 1929, flying Packard’s traditional customers. support to run the grounds and Guard base. city streets, but realizing the in a plane powered by a Packard “In an ill-fated move to be more the museum, the foundation also New displays for 2013 include need for something better, by diesel DR-980, which Lindbergh competitive, Packard Motor plans to convert the repair an F-89C “Scorpion”, a C-130E 1926 Packard sought a testing fa- praised for its performance. Company purchased Studebaker garage to a banquet hall, for “Hercules”, and an A-10A “Thun- cility. The previous year, Packard in 1954,” she said. “By 1956, the which some auto history buffs derbolt II” in the outdoor Air “(The company) bought land Head Aeronautical Engineer merger with Studebaker was fail- have already made reservations. Park. A ¾-scale historically accu- in what is now Selfridge Air Base, Lionel Woolson and Packard Test ing.” “People want this, which is rate model of the original but for some reason they sold Pilot Walter Lees set a record The Packard assembly line great . It has the atmosphere “Wright Flyer” will soon be on the land . and came to the with a DR-980-powered Stinson, shifted to South Bend, Ind. By the and it’s unique,” said Davis. display in their “Spad Hangar.” present location at 23 Mile and flying nonstop from the Proving time the first 1958 Packard Hawk The foundation is seeking do- Further information on the Sel- Van Dyke,” Davis said. Grounds to Virginia in six hours. rolled off the Studebaker-Packard nations and volunteer help. To fridge Military Air Museum and Out of the one-square-mile site, The airplane engine era at Corp. assembly line, Packard Mo- volunteer or to donate, call 586- Air Park can be found at Packard eventually purchased Packard came to an end in 1930 tor Company had all but ceased 739-4800 and leave a message. www.selfridgeairmuseum.org. about 560 acres of farmland, after Woolson was killed in a bounded by Van Dyke and plane crash. Mound highways to the east and Packard continued to prosper We’ll Give You a Minimum of $2500 for Your Trade!...GUARANTEED! west, and 23 Mile to 22 Mile even through the Great Depres- roads from north to south. sion (1929-1942). During these NO First Today, a little less than 14 acres years, the grounds were home to Payment of the original site remain. Proving Grounds Manager OR The entrance to the Packard Charles Vincent, his wife Lucile Security Deposit Proving Grounds shows an ele- and three daughters – Dorothea, Required on Select Leases! gant face with its graceful front Cornelli and Roberta. gates, handsome two-story lodge In 1941, the U.S. became en- and a nearby Repairs Garage, gaged in World War II. The Vin- 2013 CRUZE “LS” 2013 MALIBU “LS” both styled in the Tudor-revival cents left in 1942 and the Proving • ECOTEC 1.8L DOHC Engine! • Automatic Transmission! • 2.5L DOHC VVT Engine! • Automatic Transmission! • Power Locks/Windows! • AM/FM Stereo with CD! • Power Windows/Locks! • AM/FM/XM/CD Audio System! style by well-known industrial ar- Grounds were turned over to • Tilt Steering! • Five-Star Safety Rating! • Remote Keyless! chitect Albert Kahn. Chrysler Defense Engineering for • Bluetooth for Phone! • Alum Wheels! “Everything was designed to the testing of tanks and other Stk. #D12561 • Rear Window Defogger! 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