Vintage Packard Car Assembly Plant Brick Relic Fragment Circa. 1903 - Detroit, Michigan
Vintage Packard Car Assembly Plant Brick Relic Fragment Circa. 1903 - Detroit, Michigan
This vintage factory brick from the Packard Car Assembly Plant in 1903 is a unique and rare piece of automobilia collecting. It serves as a tangible link to the rich history of automotive manufacturing, showcasing the craftsmanship and engineering of the early 1900s. This artifact would make a valuable and nostalgic addition to any collection related to transportation or vintage vehicles, offering a glimpse into the past of the automotive industry. Each custom display measures approximately 4 x 6"
The Packard Plant became one of the most tired images of Detroit’s decline, but long before that, it was a trailblazer that changed the way auto plants were built and produced more than 1.6 million cars.
The first Packard was completed Nov. 6, 1899, in Warren, Ohio. A group of investors convinced James Ward Packard to move his fledgling car company to Detroit. In early 1903, architect Albert Kahn was hired to design a factory on 40 acres along Grand Boulevard. For his 10th building in the complex, Kahn employed reinforced concrete. This was a game-changing first for plant construction and made him the auto industry’s go-to guy for factories.
The Packard Plant eventually grew to 80 some buildings spread across 80 acres. It continued making quality cars for decades, as well as engines for World War II, but ran into trouble when it bought the Studebaker Corp. in 1954. The merged company never turned a profit. The Detroit plant closed when the last true Packard was produced in 1956. The name itself was discontinued two years later.