Here are your Auto Factoids (#AutoFactoids) for the first full week in May 2015.
Dateline May 3rd, 1948 – Willys Jeepster Phaeton debuts.
The production was only a 3 year run with a total units produced was 19,132. The engines ranged from a 134.1 cu in (2.2 L) I4 and two I6, a 148.5 cu in (2.4 L) I6 and 161 cu in (2.6 L) I6.
1948 Jeepster Phatheon
Same day one year later (May 3rd, 1949 ) – Packard has its 50th Anniversary and to commemorate it they offered up 2,000 Gold Packard’s from Utica Proving Grounds. Yes that did happen. They were painted in a special paint code of Gold. Each were powered with 327 c.i.d., 150 hp engine. Only 600 were convertibles.
This isn’t, of course, Gold, but only 600 Gold Convertibles were made with that special paint code.
Packard’s Utica Proving Grounds.
May 4th 1923 – The first Le Mans 24 Hour race was held just outside Le Mans, France. Initial the race was limited to ‘production’ cars and two drivers, now they require 3 drivers per car and the of course these cars aren’t in your dealers show rooms. The race was won by one of the French teams – André Lagache and Léonard driving a Chenard et Walcker with 3.0L I4 engine.
This is an awesome looking car!!!
May 6th and 7th, 1928– Chrysler debuts the De Soto for the 1929 model year and completes the purchase of Dodge, in part for its dealerships to sell the new De Soto. In the course of the marque’s run (1929-1961) it set several sales records for Chrysler and the auto industry. It’s first year (1929) saw 81,065 unit sold and it held the record unit 1960 when Ford beat it with the Falcon.
1928-29 Chrysler De Soto
Thanks for reading.
Tim
(#AutoFactoids)
