Lot 97
1940 Packard 110 Club Coupe Peking-Paris Rally
US$ 60,000 - 90,000
£ 45,000 - 68,000
Amended
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Quail Motorcar Auction14 Aug 2020, 11:00 PDT

Los Angeles
1940 Packard 110 Club Coupe Peking-Paris Rally
Chassis no. 535965
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
*Modified for safety, endurance and reliability

To view a YouTube walkaround of this lot please
Previewing in Uxbridge, Massachusetts by appointment. Please contact motors.us@bonhams.com?subject=Sched...torcar Auctionfor scheduling.


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.

Saleroom notices

• Please note, the title will be in transit.

Conditions of Sale View
G

 

Tying some racing history together
See last post in thread:
See it before it goes away.

 

Tying some racing history together
See last post in thread:
See it before it goes away.
*****************************

 

A quick history on the rise and fall of Group B.

Always blaming the car instead of the A-holes who set up dangerous courses.

By Johan Dillen
Feb 14, 2026

More than 30 years ago, Group B perished in a ball of flames in a ravine in Corsica. “It was never a question of if, but when we were going to have people killed with Group B rally cars,” said Tony Pond, who drove the awesome MG Metro 6R4 for the factory team.

A lack of rules meant every other rally saw a new, ever more powerful and faster “evo” version show up at the start, spitting flames and kicking up gravel in uncontrolled anger. The scenario had disaster written all over it, yet rally never again succeeded in touching people’s hearts more than in the short-lived, four-year Group B period.

The Group B regulations made their debut for the 1982 season. It would be the top rung on the World Rally Championship. FISA, now known as FIA, not only wanted to simplify their rally groups but also aimed to attract more mainstream manufacturers to the sport. For that reason, homologation specifications were relaxed from previous years: Just 200 road-going versions of each Group B entry were required.

Thanks to advances in turbocharger technology, cars quickly evolved from “fast” to “way too much.” Group B cars initially produced about 300 horsepower. Soon that number rose to 400-and then 500.

By 1986 the game was up. Three spectators ended up dead after Joaquim Santos left the road in his Ford RS200at the Rally of Portugal in March. Dozens of others were injured. The leading drivers pulled out of the rally, having had enough of playing Russian roulette with spectators whose only desire was to touch a moving car. FISA, oddly enough, threatened to withdraw the licenses of the drivers who sat out.

By May more blood followed. Henri Toivonen–deemed by Lancia’s team manager Cesare Fiorio as the only driver to be able to manage the wild Delta S4–was fully in control of the Tour of Corsica. Then, on Stage 18, for reasons never clarified, the car left the road. Chassis No. 211, in its first and only competition appearance, dove down into a ravine. It is believed that trees cut through the fuel tank; the nearby turbocharger instantly turned everything into a fireball.

In the Delta S4, both driver and co-driver sit on the fuel tanks, surrounded by many magnesium parts. Henri Toivonen and co-driver Sergio Cresto never stood a chance. In two minutes chassis 211 was reduced to just the tubular structure.

All the technology and research leading to more speed had all of a sudden become too much. Fiorio said as much in a TV statement after the accident: “There is a problem with the balance between the cars and the roads they operate on. Speeds have become too high for the driver to safely operate the car on these roads.” Always blaming the car instead of the A-holes who set up dangerous courses.

Fiorio was instrumental in the creation of Group B–it was he who lowered homologation criteria to 200 cars where the German carmakers first wanted 2000–and was also present when FISA president Jean-Marie Balestre declared Group B dead and buried whilst still on Corsican soil.
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Tying some racing history together
See last post in thread:
See it before it goes away.
*****************************

 

Tying some racing history together
See last post in thread:
See it before it goes away.
*****************************
Inside the NASCAR Hall of Fame*********************

NASCAR Hall of Fame Tour 2013************************


NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum Tour... Charlotte, NC

https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/a...ml#post9441920

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Living Legends of Auto Racing Museum
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/e...h-florida.html

Abandoned tracks in Florida area and other places (updated)
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/ge...s-fl-area.html

Bonneville History
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/ge...e-history.html

Daytona History
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/ge...a-history.html

Drag Racing History
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/dr...ml#post9366328

This link has some historic drag racing pics.

https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/dr...pics-ever.html


Local historic drag racing track Twin City Oldsmar

https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/ge...florida-4.html


Indianapolis History

https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/ge...ml#post9373490



24 Hours of Lemans history

https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/ge...s-history.html


Lime Rock Park history

https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/au...rock-park.html


Pikes Peak racing history
Is Pikes Peak a road Race?


https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/ge...ml#post9362624


History of Race Cars

https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/ge...ml#post9370578

Road Racing History
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/g...g-history.html

Sebring history

The way to part 2 "A brief History of Sebring Raceway" is here:
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/g...-40-posts.html
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This was the original brief history of Sebring part 1
https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/general-car-chat/816701-sebring-raceway-brief-history-part-1-has-now-exceeded-40-posts-115-posts.html
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A bit of stock car racing history

https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/ge...ml#post9362625


Tying some Tampa Racing history together with links: Tampa International Raceway (Fair Grounds)

https://www.tamparacing.com/forums/ge...l-raceway.html
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A Jaguar C-type owned by two F1 champs, Fangio and Now Button

1952 Jaguar C-type by J.A. Ackley
Feb 25, 2026

The world’s greatest drivers seem to recognize the world’s greatest cars. Case in point, this Jaguar C-type, first owned by five-time F1 champ Juan Manuel Fangio and now owned by F1 champ Jenson Button.



Legend has it that when Fangio saw the C-type at the 1952 Belgium Auto Show, he had to have one. Jaguar happily complied, selling it to the star driver for half the asking price. Unfortunately, Fangio never raced the car, instead entrusting it to Argentinean Jaguar distributor Jose Millet to compete with. Millet most likely couldn’t acquire the car, otherwise, as his name didn’t have the pull, and Fangio most likely couldn’t race it because of his contract with Maserati.



Fast forward to today, and it’s in the possession of another F1 champ, Jenson Button. He’s raced it in historic events such as Goodwood in 2023 and Monterey in 2024.



Find this 1952 Jaguar C-Type for sale at Fiskens, with its price available upon application.

 

“The King of the Airfields” reigned supreme with this Jaguar XK120

1950 Jaguar XK120 Competition Roadster by J.A. Ackley
Apr 3, 2026

Before Roy Salvadori won Le Mans with Carroll Shelby. Before he became a podium-finishing Formula 1 driver. And before he earned his nickname, “The King of the Airfields,” with his prowess at tracks such as Silverstone and Snetterton, a young Salvadori raced this Jaguar XK120.



Salvadori campaigned this car during the 1951 season. His best finish? A win during the Goodwood Members’ Meeting.



After changing hands a couple of times, the history of the car becomes unknown from its time of its sale in 1968 and when it was restored in 2009. Then the Jaguar competed in historic racing followed by years of participation in the Mille Miglia–six, to be exact (2013, ’14, ’16, ’19, ’23, ’25).



Find this 1950 Jaguar XK120 Competition Roadster for sale at Hilton & Moss, with its price available upon application.

 

The film flopped, (Truth about Women-no comment) but in competition this Jaguar XK120 shined

1951 Jaguar XK120 by J.A. Ackley
Feb 23, 2026

This Jaguar XK120 is a car with in-period racing experience and film experience back in the day. Plus, it’s been comprehensively restored, too.



Let’s start with its competition record. Cyril Wick and car owner Mark Levy entered the Rallye International Evian-Mont-Blanc-Megève. They set fastest times on several stages, but a brake failure ended their event in its closing hours. The Jaguar also competed in hillclimbs and made an appearance at Goodwood in 1953.



You can also find this XK120 in the opening credits of the 1957 film “The Truth About Women.”



Find this 1951 Jaguar XK120 for sale at Fiskens, with its price available upon application.