Packard produced 49 examples of the Model B by the end of 1900, and it was the first production model produced by the newly formed company. The Warren Daily Chronicle reported on April 13, 1900: 'The New York & Ohio Co. this morning shipped its first automobiles to a Cleveland gentleman. The company will ship six more machines this month and has the same number of machines under construction at its manufactory. The autos are as fine as any made and tests have proved them superior in many points to the other machines.'James Ward Packard was a successful industrialist whose Packard Electric Company was a manufacturer of cable and electrical devices. He purchased one of the first motorcars built by Alexander Winton. Dissatisfied with his product, he offered suggestions for its improvement. Mr. Winton responded, 'Why don't you make a car yourself?' Mr. Packard did just that, and it would become a pinnacle of the luxury car market for the next sixty years. Introduced in the Spring of 1900, the Packard Model B was powered by a single-cylinder, 142.6 cubic-inch engine with a 5.5-inch bore and a 6-inch stroke, delivering nine horsepower. It was matted to a planetary transmission with two forward speeds and a center chain drive, and used various gearing as required for different localities. The 76-inch wheelbase chassis used wire spoke wheels wrapped with 34x3 single tube tires and wore a four-passenger carriage body with a dos-a-dos rear seat (a latter a $50 option) built by the Morgan & Williams Carriage Manufacturing Company of Warren, Ohio. There was a single solar light mounted centrally at the front, and steering was by spade handle lever.
By 1903, the Packard automobiles had grown in reliability and sophistication that a 1902 Model F powered by Packard's single-cylinder 12 HP engine with automatic ignition advance and 3-speed sliding gear transmission made the transcontinental trip from San Francisco to New York in 53 days.Henry Joy organized a Packard expansion in 1902, moving the company from its original home in Warren, Ohio, to Detroit where it was recapitalized as the Packard Motor Car Company. Around the same time, Packard moved away from buggy-style runabouts and tourers, embracing front-engined, rear-wheel drive configuration with the Model K and its successor, the Model L.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2024
At the New York Automobile Show in November 1900, Packard displayed a Model B. The Model B remained in the company's catalog through 1901.
By Daniel Vaughan | Mar 2024
Runabout
Engine #: A30
1900 Packard Model B Vehicle Profiles
Recent Vehicle Additions
Performance and Specification Comparison
Price Comparison
Related Automotive News
Volkswagen announces 2025 ID. Buzz offer structure
The ID. Buzz, Volkswagens electric reincarnation of the iconic Microbus will be offered in the U.S. in three trims Pro S, Pro S Plus, and a launch-only 1st Edition
Both RWD or 4Motion® AWD configurations will be available
Standard features incl...
Packards at The Greenbrier
The automobiles built by the Packard Motor Car Company were celebrated at this years Greenbrier Concours dElegance held in White...
RM Auctions to Present The Merrick Auto Museum Collection at 13th Annual Hershey Sale
OVER 100 BRASS ERA CARS AND SELECTION OF MEMORABILIA OFFERED ENTIRELY WITHOUT RESERVE
RM Auctions set to offer the Merrick Auto Museum Collection at Hershey auction, 10-11 October in Pennsylvania
Offered entirely without reserve, the multi...
Premier To Make Its Premiere
Pioneering Indianapolis motor manufacturer makes its first ever appearance on Veteran Car Run
Roll out the red carpet this years Bonhams London to Brighton Veteran Car Run supported by Hiscox will feature another premiere… and, appropriately, this...
Mullin's Delage D8-120 Cabriolet From Hollywood's 'An American In Paris' Starring Gene Kelly To Make UK Debut
Heveningham Hall, Suffolk, UK - Heveningham Hall Concours dElegance has announced that Peter %26 Merle Mullins 1939 Delage D8-120 Cabriolet, the car that appeared in 1951 Hollywood movie An American in Paris starring the legendary Gene Kelly,...