The origins of the Packwood Special can be traced to California aerospace engineer Steve Mulholland, who gathered components over a two-year period with the plan of building his dream machine. When he bought a Mercedes 300SL Gullwing in 1958, the dream quickly faded and Mulholland soon ran an ad in the L.A. Times offering the project for $1,000. Bill Packwood of Pico Rivera, California, spotted the ad and bought the package, which included a rectangular beam frame, a 354 Chrysler Hemi engine, a Jag C-Type gearbox, Borrani wire wheels, Porsche Speedster bucket seats, a modular aircraft wing tank for fuel, a Victress C-3 Coupe body, and lots and lots of parts.
Packwood built the car in his family’s garage while attending Long Beach State University where he received a B.A. degree in Political Science and Economics. At this time, the racing scene was really hopping, and Bill was blessed by frequent visits from his good friend Woody Sanders and other local Southern California talent who were always glad to lend a hand. According to both Bill and his younger brother Rodney (who’s done a phenomenal job retracing the car’s history), the original constructor of the frame remains a mystery. Bill Packwood said, “For a long time I thought Bill Pollack had built the chassis, but when my brother Rodney spoke with him, he told him that wasn’t the case at all.” Packwood used a Ford straight axle up front and a Lincoln unit at the rear. Stopping power was by Lincoln drums at all four corners. Engine master John Simon helped with tuning and headwork on the Hemi, which breathed through four Stromberg 97s on a Weiand intake manifold. Lou Gable fabricated the exhaust system.
