Pak-Age-Car

Pak-Age-Car was an unusual American commercial-vehicle marque that produced compact walk-in delivery vans from the mid-1920s until 1941. The concept originated in Chicago with two developers identified as Oldfield and Rollston, who sought to reproduce the operating advantages of a horse-drawn delivery carriage in a motor vehicle. The resulting vehicle had a highly upright, box-like body, a very short wheelbase, and an open, doorless driver's compartment that allowed the operator to step out on either side for rapid deliveries. Its design was aimed at businesses such as grocers, bakers, meat distributors, and other operators moving goods through urban streets. The first prototype, completed in 1925, was called the Pac-Kar. Small-scale production began in 1926. The business passed through several corporate identities, including Package Car Corporation, Mechanical Manufacturing Company, and Northern Motors, Inc. Connections with companies associated with the Swift meatpacking interests appear to have helped the vehicles find commercial use, although the manufacturer remained financially weak and production stayed limited. Early vehicles used a narrow, flat-front body with a 52-inch-wide cab, a standing driver, hand-operated brake, clutch, and throttle controls, and a removable powertrain. The original engine was a seven-horsepower horizontally opposed two-cylinder unit supplied by Hercules. The company emphasized that the complete drivetrain could be removed and replaced rapidly without disturbing the cargo body. Stutz Motor Company began distributing Pak-Age-Cars through its dealer network in 1927. As Stutz's passenger-car business deteriorated during the Depression, it acquired a controlling interest in Pak-Age-Car on November 15, 1932, and moved production to Indianapolis. Stutz revised the vehicle with a more rounded body, enclosed rear wheels, and American Austin four-cylinder engines. In January 1935, Stutz announced that it would stop building passenger cars and concentrate on Pak-Age-Car production, hoping that the delivery vehicle could provide a path to survival. A more substantially redesigned 1936 model used a V-shaped front, split windshield, attached front fenders, and a larger Hercules four-cylinder engine. Payload capacity increased substantially, and customers could choose among different door arrangements, wheelbases, and, on some versions, a driver's seat. The strategy failed to rescue Stutz. The company filed for bankruptcy in April 1937, although court authorization allowed approximately 100 additional vehicles to be completed later that year for existing orders. Rights and tooling subsequently returned to Northern Motors and were sold to Auburn Central Manufacturing Corporation in 1938. Auburn formed a new Pak-Age-Car Corporation, moved production to its Connersville, Indiana, facility, and retained manufacturing while assigning sales and service to Diamond T in 1939. Auburn-era vehicles used Lycoming engines and were marketed as the Model 91 and Model 117. Production ended in March 1941 as the Connersville plant concentrated on wartime work, including Jeep bodies and B-24 Liberator wing components. Period parts literature sometimes suggested availability into 1946, but the generally accepted production end is 1941. Approximately 3,500 vehicles are thought to have been built. Only about ten are believed to survive, in part because delivery vehicles were heavily used and early refrigerated or perishable-goods operations commonly relied on ice inside the body, causing severe internal corrosion. Pak-Age-Car is therefore remembered primarily as an inventive but commercially fragile American delivery-vehicle specialist rather than as a mass-market automotive brand.

Pak-Age-Car developed from an attempt to mechanize the horse-drawn delivery wagon without losing the latter's usefulness in dense urban routes. Chicago developers Oldfield and Rollston completed an initial prototype in 1925 under the name Pac-Kar. Production began in 1926, but the enterprise had little financial backing and remained a small-volume operation. The companies connected with the vehicle changed names several times, including Package Car Corporation, Mechanical Manufacturing Company, and Northern Motors, Inc. The early vehicle was exceptionally narrow and upright. Its driver stood in a cab approximately 52 inches wide and could leave through either side because there were no conventional doors. Hand levers operated the brake, clutch, and throttle. The body used a steel-and-wood construction and was mounted on a 92.5-inch wheelbase. A seven-horsepower horizontally opposed Hercules two-cylinder engine powered the vehicle, with the engine and drivetrain arranged as a removable module. This modular layout was intended to reduce downtime for commercial operators. Stutz Motor Company distributed the vehicles through its dealer network beginning in 1927. When Stutz's passenger-car business collapsed during the Great Depression, it took a controlling interest in Pak-Age-Car in November 1932 and transferred manufacture to Indianapolis. Stutz modified the body, enclosed the rear wheels, introduced rounded sheet-metal surfaces, and used American Austin four-cylinder engines. By 1935, Stutz had abandoned passenger-car manufacture and presented the Pak-Age-Car as its principal commercial opportunity. The 1936 redesign was more conventional in appearance, with a V-shaped front, split windshield, attached front fenders, and a larger Hercules IXA four-cylinder engine. The Model 90 could carry substantially more weight than early versions, and longer-wheelbase configurations offered additional body flexibility and, in at least one version, a driver's seat. Stutz's recovery plan failed. The company entered bankruptcy in April 1937, although roughly 100 vehicles were completed later that year for existing orders. The rights eventually returned to Northern Motors and were sold in 1938 to Auburn Central Manufacturing Corporation. Auburn created a new Pak-Age-Car Corporation, transferred the tooling and production to Connersville, Indiana, and resumed manufacturing in October 1938. The Auburn-built vehicles used Lycoming power units and were sold as the Model 91 and Model 117. In 1939, Diamond T assumed sales and service while Auburn continued to build the vehicles. The final phase was curtailed by the Second World War. Auburn's plant was redirected toward military-related work, and Pak-Age-Car production ended in March 1941. Although some parts documents listed later availability, the accepted production period ends in 1941. Total output is generally estimated at about 3,500 vehicles. Survival rates were especially poor because these were hard-used work vehicles. Delivery bodies carrying perishables were often cooled with ice, allowing meltwater to promote corrosion from inside the body. Approximately ten examples are thought to remain, including vehicles built during both the Stutz and Diamond T-associated periods.

• 1941

  Production discontinued

  [1]Pak-Age-Caren.wikipedia.org

  Pak-Age-Car manufacture ended as the Connersville plant was converted to wartime production.

• 1939

  Diamond T takes over sales and service

  [1]Pak-Age-Caren.wikipedia.org

  Diamond T assumed distribution and service responsibilities while Auburn retained manufacturing.

• 1938

  Auburn Central takes over rights

  [1]Pak-Age-Caren.wikipedia.org

  Auburn Central Manufacturing Corporation formed a new Pak-Age-Car corporation and moved the tooling and production to Connersville.

• 1937

  Stutz bankruptcy

  [1]Pak-Age-Caren.wikipedia.org

  Stutz filed for bankruptcy; limited Pak-Age-Car production continued temporarily to complete vehicles for existing orders.

• 1936

  Model 90 redesign

  [1]Pak-Age-Caren.wikipedia.org

  The redesigned Model 90 gained a more conventional front end, a larger Hercules engine, higher payload capacity, and expanded body configurations.

• 1935

  Stutz abandons passenger cars

  [1]Pak-Age-Caren.wikipedia.org

  Stutz announced that it would focus its manufacturing efforts on Pak-Age-Car vehicles.

• 1932

  Stutz acquires control

  [1]Pak-Age-Caren.wikipedia.org

  Stutz took a controlling interest and moved production to Indianapolis.

• 1927

  Stutz dealer distribution begins

  [1]Pak-Age-Caren.wikipedia.org

  Stutz began distributing Pak-Age-Cars through its dealer network.

• 1926

  Small-scale production begins

  [1]Pak-Age-Caren.wikipedia.org

  Commercial production began, introducing a narrow standing-driver delivery van intended to replace the horse-drawn delivery wagon.

• 1925

  Pac-Kar prototype completed

  [1]Pak-Age-Caren.wikipedia.org

  The first prototype of the compact walk-in delivery vehicle was completed in Chicago under the Pac-Kar name.

A practical motorized replacement for the horse-drawn delivery wagon, emphasizing rapid driver access, compact urban dimensions, modular serviceability, and a large usable cargo body.

• Compact delivery van · 1926

  Early Pac-Kar and Pak-Age-Car delivery van

  The earliest production vehicle was a narrow, flat-front walk-in delivery van built around the needs of urban route operators. The driver stood in a doorless cab and used hand controls for the brake, clutch, and throttle. Its 92.5-inch wheelbase, box-shaped body, and removable Hercules two-cylinder drivetrain prioritized maneuverability and rapid service over passenger comfort. The vehicle was intended to perform the work of a horse-drawn delivery wagon while eliminating the horse and stable requirements.

• Delivery van · 1936

  Model 90

  Introduced for the 1936 model year during the Stutz period, the Model 90 represented a major redesign. It featured a V-shaped front, split windshield, attached front fenders, and a Hercules IXA four-cylinder engine of approximately 1.85 liters. The model was heavier and offered payload ratings from about 2,000 to 3,600 pounds. Buyers could specify sliding side doors, alternative rear-door arrangements, and different wheelbases, including a long-wheelbase version presented to the baking industry.

• Delivery van · 1938

  Model 91

  The Model 91 was one of the Auburn-era Pak-Age-Car variants produced after the rights and tooling moved to Connersville. Auburn-era vehicles incorporated Lycoming power, revised details, and recognizable body and wheel features, including rounded corners, distinctive windshield rubber gaskets, and different steel wheels. The model served the same commercial niche as earlier Pak-Age-Cars: short-distance delivery work requiring a compact body and a generous cargo compartment.

• Long-wheelbase delivery van · 1938

  Model 117

  The Model 117 was the longer-wheelbase Auburn-associated version of the Pak-Age-Car. It retained the marque's walk-in commercial format while providing a larger platform for delivery bodies. Auburn production used Lycoming engines and continued to emphasize serviceable mechanical packaging and practical cargo access. Sales and service were handled by Diamond T from 1939, while manufacture remained at Auburn's Connersville facility until wartime conversion ended production.

• 1939

  Diamond T receives distribution responsibilitiesStrategy

  Background

  Auburn did not have a substantial sales and service network after its own financial difficulties.

  Action taken

  Diamond T was assigned sales and service while Auburn Central retained manufacturing.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement continued until production was discontinued in 1941 as the factory shifted to wartime work.

  Source

• 1938

  Auburn Central acquires Pak-Age-Car rightsM&A

  Background

  After Stutz's collapse, the rights and tooling were available for transfer to another member of the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg corporate orbit.

  Action taken

  Auburn Central Manufacturing Corporation formed a new Pak-Age-Car corporation and moved manufacture to Connersville, Indiana.

  Aftermath

  Production resumed with Auburn-associated components, but the marque remained a low-volume specialist and ended during wartime plant conversion.

  Source

• 1935

  Stutz concentrates on Pak-Age-CarStrategy

  Background

  Stutz's passenger-car sales had deteriorated, and management regarded the commercial vehicle as a potential recovery product.

  Action taken

  Stutz announced that it would cease building passenger cars and focus entirely on Pak-Age-Car production.

  Aftermath

  The strategy produced redesign and hiring plans but failed to restore the company, which filed for bankruptcy in 1937.

  Source

• 1932

  Stutz takes a controlling interestM&A

  Background

  Pak-Age-Car had limited financial resources, while Stutz was seeking additional commercial activity as its passenger-car business weakened.

  Action taken

  Stutz acquired control of the company and moved production to its Indianapolis plant.

  Aftermath

  The move led to redesigns and greater Stutz involvement, but the delivery-vehicle business did not prevent Stutz from entering bankruptcy in 1937.

  Source

1. 1Pak-Age-Caren.wikipedia.org