Packard 110 Club Coupe Peking-Paris Rally, 1940
Packard One-Ten
Packard One-Ten•
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Chassis No.: 535965
Estimate: US$60,000 - US$90,000 USD
- 245 c.i. L-head Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
- Single Stromberg Carburetor
- Est. 110 hp
- 3-Speed Manual Transmission
- Independent Front Suspension, Live Rear Axle
- 4-Wheel Hydraulic Drum Brakes
- Successful finisher in the 2017 Peking to Paris Vintage Auto Rally
- Suitable for all vintage rallies
- THE PACKARD 110
Packard had long enjoyed its reputation among the American premium "Three P's" which also included Peerless and Pierce Arrow, stellar company indeed. For its 1940 model line (Eighteenth Series), Packard again offered both "Junior" and "Senior" lines, the least expensive of which was the 110 with a six-cylinder engine. The 110s included a two-passenger Business Coupe, a four-place Club Coupe, a convertible coupe, traditional two- and four-door sedans, and a station wagon. These 110s were fitted with a 100-horsepower, cast-iron, F-head in-line six of 245 cubic inches. Their three-speed manual transmissions were controlled via a column shift. The Club Coupe, as offered here, carried a factory price of just over $1100.
THE MOTORCAR OFFERED
Inspired by the late '30's Chevrolet rally cars driven across South America by the late World Driving Champion Juan Manuel Fangio of Argentina, New Hampshire businessman and vintage racing enthusiast and collector Nick Grewal decided to build his own version with which to compete in the incredibly grueling 2019 Peking to Paris vintage car rally. Although he found a good donor candidate, he decided the car was too nice to modify and instead searched out another car from the same pre-war period, which turned out to be a 1940 Packard 110 Club Coupe located in California.
The Packard was given over to Jim Lowrey Auto Restoration in Tilton, New Hampshire, near Grewal's home, where it was modified to ensure reliability over the almost 9000 mile route which covers three time zones and 11 countries, sometimes where there are no roads at all and teams occasionally had to sleep in tents. The Packard's engine had to remain essentially stock, but was rebuilt with racing-quality connecting rods and other heavy-duty components. The stock manual transmission was retained. However, a competition clutch package was installed, and a robust Ford 9-inch rear axle with limited-slip replaced the old stock Packard unit.
Front disc brakes were adapted, but later replaced by drums. The Packard's steel frame was strengthened and underbody protection added by fabrication of a tubular steel under-pan. Both the front and rear fenders were cut away so that mud and other debris would be easy to remove, the stock bumpers were replaced with leaf springs, and the exhaust system re-routed to above the right rear fender to allow easier fording of water hazards. Ride comfort was enhanced by the addition of air-bags to supplement the front suspension.
To comply with the rally's stringent safety standards, Lowrey installed a well-braced roll-bar and a pair of deep bucket seats from a Subaru STI WRX, along with five-point Shroth racing harnesses. Finally, after 2 ½ years and more than 800 hours of labor, the car was completed. The Packard was then shipped by sea to China where the race began. A substantial amount of spare parts, wheels and tires, and extra fuel was packed into the car's interior and trunk compartment before the start.
With Grewal, an experienced vintage race car driver at the wheel and Dirk Burrows handling the navigation, the Packard successfully finished the 36-day contest, a monumental achievement. They overcame a blown clutch in Novosibirsk, Russia, as well as a broken spring and two failed shock absorbers along the way. Steel-belted radial tires had been fitted, and Mr. Grewal said the car never suffered a flat during the rally. Their experience has been documented in a
YouTube video.
This battle-tested little Packard, so reminiscent of the South American Carretera, should be thoroughly checked over before attempting the 2022 edition of the Paris to Peking Rally. For those of us that love motorsport, the great outdoors and embracing new challenges – your chariot awaits.
