Three Henneys (beats a full house)

Steve Lichtman

Steve Lichtman

The Packard Club National Meet began today in Gettysburg, PA. At today's driving tour, there were three Henney Packard ambulances present. Of course, we got pics to share. It was like a little PCS meet. Or Henney-heaven! :D Three perfect examples of why the Richard Arbib styling of Henney professional cars was so popular at the time.

Left to right, they are:
'54 Henney Senior, Waynesboro Ambulance Squad/Bob Herb, Waynesboro, PA (original owners)
'53 Henney Senior, George Hamlin, Clarksburg, MD (formerly Union Fire Co. of Titusville, NJ)
'53 Henney Junior, Steve Lichtman, Mt. Airy, MD (formerly USAF, then Etchison Funeral Home, Frederick, MD)
 

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Funny you should post this today

I just got off the phone with a gentleman from Wenatchee,WA who has a 51 Henney Packard ambulance he is restoring and looking for answers regarding siren & lights for it. I referred him to John Dorgan and George Hamlin for info. Anyone else I should have told him to contact? BTW, he got MY number from the guy at the local Burger joint where we have most of our local cruise-ins.
 
I heard there were 3 1/2 Henneys there!

Hamlins Henney Derham limousine counts as 1/2 Henney doesn't it. I'll see you Wednesday morning Steve if nothing happens.
 
Nice looking line up, I like the one on the far right the best though. I just love the color combo you picked out for that car. It fits it perfect.

Josh
 
Very nice photo, I agree with Josh, Steve that color combination is really sharp. Gettysburg PA, my wife has an aunt about 10 minutes from there in Littlestown, very nice country.
 
Looks Great

Great looking car Steve. I love the color combination. Can't wait to see
it in person.. Se you next week. Sandy
 
The '54 limo of Hamlin's is really sort of a 4-way car: A Briggs Henney Derham Packard. The basic "starter kit" body is by Briggs, using both "Senior" and "Junior" components; the limo conversion/assembly by Henney; the "formal" treatment by Derham; and all of this with Packard "guts" and identity. A real Duke's Mixture of a vehicle.
 
Sorry Jim, this is a common mistake. The 1953 and 1954 Packard nine-passenger sedans and limousines were built by Henney as were the 1946 and 1947 Clipper-based offerings. Those long-wheelbase Packard sedans and limos built for the 22nd and 23rd Series cars (1948-1950) were the only ones built by Briggs. Clearing this up we see that these limos from 1946-1947 = Henney, from 1948-1950 = Briggs and finally, those of 1953-1954 = Henney. The Derham up-grades were available to any of these Packards but, were most common (if that is the proper application of the word for such a rare model) on the 1953-1954 models. So....George's car is simply a 1954 Henney-Derham Packard - no less impressive.
 
Henney Senior (Front) Tunnel Lights

Keith Synder: It sounds like you may "the person" that can clear up a question I have asked before about front tunnel lights on Henney-Packard Ambulances. The 1954 shown in Steve's pictures shows a "molded in to the body" front tunnel lights, like our 1954, while George Hamlin's 1953 look "added-on", similar to Steve's Junior. The small local VFD in Fallbrook (CA) our 1954 came from had several other Henney-Packard Ambulances over the years dating back to 1939, and ALL had "molded-in to the body) front tunnel lights. Is is as simple as that.... they could be either way.... or the molded ones were strictly that way and ordered from the factory?........... THANKS! MM
 
Keith, I disagree. The front of the '53 and '54 Henneys, as well as the rear aft of the D pillar, is the same as used on the Detroit cars, and I believe was made by Briggs. The rear window, and maybe some of the sheet metal back there, too, is from the 200/Clipper. Henney did the rest of the body work, and assembly, incl. the "fits either side" rear door. While the 21st Series long cars are Henneys, it is likely that there are Briggs components there also, as it would make no sense for Henney to fabricate something such as the hood or trunk lid, when those pieces could be gotten from Detroit.
 
Jim is correct.

Briggs built the Packard bodies in 53-54. ALL the Packard bodies, Patrician and Clipper alike. Henney then modified it to make the limousine body.
 
Oh, and...

Briggs made the fenders and hood and trunk-lid, too. And at the time Chrysler owned Briggs, so you can add Chrysler to the list as well.
 
Is this the same Briggs that made the bodies for the Ford Model A???
 
Budd Bodies Too!

Paul: I just read in "Old Cars Weekly" that The BUDD Company who later made the very popular C-Series Cabs for Ford and Mack Trucks (including many fire trucks) made a handful of (all steel) bodies for Ford's Model A, trying to convince Henry Ford that they were safer. (*) Unfortunately they apparently weren't cheaper too and didn't go anywhere. MM
 
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