Master Motor Builders  by Robert J. Neal

The title of this book should be Packard: Master Motor Builders. Author Robert J. Neal has been collecting technical and production data concerning Packard's non-automotive products for years, and first published Packards at Speed which covered the use of Packard engines in performance of all types from 1900 into the 1980's. This book is the companion volume, presenting technical information and historical background on over 140 different non-automotive Packard engines.

This book is not, however, simply a compilation of technical data, but is a comprehensively researched and well presented history which follows the "inception, design, production and uses of the non-automotive engines of the Packard Motor Car Company" from the beginning through 1956, including a financial analysis of many of the engine programs and detailed biographies of significant Packard engineers, including Col. Vincent. 

Master Motor Builders is extremely dense with information and, at more than 360
pages, is a read which you can enjoy over a long period of time. Author Neal extensively researched original source documentation and had access to thousand of photographs.  

Nearly every page presents appropriate photos, charts and drawings interspersed with the text to tell the full story.

Quite simply, Packard was responsible for the development of powerful yet lightweight marine engines from 1919 through the end of World War II. The design and development of the Liberty V12's and V8's during the second half of 1917 was almost exclusively Packard's work, and Packard produced over 6,800 Liberties for the war effort. As government surplus, these engines became the basis of thousands of Liberty marine conversions made famous by Gar Wood and others during the 20's and 30's. Based on lessons learned with the Liberty design  and production, Packard proceeded to develop aircraft based marine engines, including the 1551 (Express Cruisers), 618 (Gold Cup), 621 (Gold Cup), 1060 (Fisher-Allison), 1237 (Fisher-Allison and Sweepstakes), 1242 (Sweepstakes), 1500 (Marine conversions), 2025 (Marine conversions), 2500 (Harmsworth Race Engines, marine conversions), PT-2500 (PT Boat military engines), and the 2000 hp 3300 (post-World War II military engines). Master Motor Builders provides the full history on all these engines, including their designers, production numbers, evolution and use. 

Packard's production engines did not end with aircraft-based designs. Iron block flathead sixes and eights were built during the 20's and late 40's, and still occasionally show up in correct restorations and in collections of old engines. 

Again, the design and production of these automotive-based marine engines is fully documented by Author Neal. 

Packard's marine engines did not end with the gasoline engines in the late 40's. A series of lightweight, high performance diesels ranging in size from 850 CID to 2270 CID were produced from 1950 through 1956 for military use in minesweepers, and some of these engines are reportedly in use today. 

Master Motor Builders is an enjoyable, if slow read and is a reference volume that every serious afficionado of old power boats and power boat racing must have in their collection.

Excellent!!


Master Motor Builders is available directly from Aero-Marine History Publishing Co.