The presidential Packard of a Chinese warlord

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When you think of China and its state limousines, visions of stretched and open topped Hongqi cars adorned with red flags on both wings and Mao Zedong standing upright in the back might crop up, but before the Hongqis there were others, too.

This Packard was taken delivery of by Chiang Kai-shek, the Chinese warlord who was elected President of the country in November 1928. It is said to be a 526 model of the fifth series with an 81 bhp six-cylinder engine and 126-inch wheelbase. And, yes, it was armoured, as well as being fitted with two rear seats ‘for machine-gunners, built high to command a clear view of snipers’ and sets of handgrips on both sides for his accompanying soldiers on the running boards (also strikingly demonstrated in the picture). We also learnt that ‘The car is to be used in Ningpo where the alley-like streets must be widened and straightened to accommodate its right-hand drive.’

Unlike Chiang Kai-shek himself, the Packard didn’t last too long in the Forbidden City and its surroundings. In February, 1930, Time magazine wrote: ‘While various of his war lords were consorting in intrigue against him last week President Chiang Kai-shek despatched an order to U.S. agents in Shanghai for a second armored motor car, bigger and more potent than the armored Packard sedan he has used for a year and a half. President Chiang's new vehicle will be the most expensive car ($47,000) ever to enter China and has been planned especially for him.'

As we so often do, we just wondered: could any of these cars survive?

Words: Jeroen Booij; picture: Detroit Public Library
 

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