05/07/2026
The Packard Motor Car Company employed about 300 workers in Warren, Ohio prior to the move to Detroit in October 1903. These photographs from the museum’s archives show Packard employees building Model F automobiles that year.
Packard’s Model F automobiles were built in a series of specialty shops located on Dana Street, then known as North Street.
The car building process began with the construction of the chassis. Once fabricated, the chassis was sent to the assembly shop where the wheels, engine, fuel and water tanks, oiling system and other parts were added. Then, the tires were mounted and the engine tested.
After that, the completed chassis was rolled into the next building where the body was placed onto the chassis, and both were sent to the paint shop where they were brush painted separately before being bolted together.
The car then went to the wiring department where one man spent half a day assembling and mounting the harness. When completed, the car was taken for a test drive through Warren to make sure everything was in working order.
