Gen. MacArthur's Mysterious Packard: Fact or Fiction?

📢Mysterious ONES🫵 - Stumbling upon intriguing stories while surfing the web is always a delight, and a recent Facebook post by Jeep Captain on July 7, 2024, is no exception. It recounted the tale of the Packard Clipper Eight sedan allegedly had owned by General Douglas MacArthur, a prominent American military figure during World War II. This story, however, has sparked a mix of fascination and skepticism among the public.

The 1942 Packard Clipper Eight sedan, allegedly owned by General Douglas MacArthur during World War II, is believed to be one of the replicas made by David Schmitt. (Picture from: Jeep Captain in Facebook)

In 1942, General Douglas MacArthur was said to have ordered a Packard Clipper Eight sedan, equipped with nearly every available option, including air conditioning, overdrive, and a radio. According to the tale, MacArthur did not simply order the car; he saved it from being disassembled for its parts to build PT boats, claiming it as war material. It's said that the base price of the car, initially $1,341, nearly doubled to $2,600. The car remained in MacArthur's possession until 1948, when he gifted it to his driver.

The Army staff car, a 1942 Clipper used by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, resides at America’s Packard Museum. (Picture from: NYTimes)

Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
(Picture from: Britanica)

For the next three decades, the car languished in a barn in Texas. How come? MacArthur had arranged for the car to be shipped to San Diego via the aircraft carrier Princeton, and from there, it was transported on a military flatbed to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, before being released to his driver in Dallas. The driver intended to have the military hardware removed and the car repainted, but he passed away before this could happen. The car was left untouched for years, and it's said still containing MacArthur's old army hat and his famous corncob pipe.

The 1947 Packard Custom Super Clipper Eight Army Staff Car, a replica of the 1942 WWII Army staff car used by US General Douglas MacArthur, was crafted by David Schmitt. (Picture from: Schmitt)

Despite the captivating narrative, the article fails to provide the current location or owner of the car, is believed to be one of the replicas made by David Schmitt. However, according to the NYTimes, the original 1942 Packard Clipper Eight sedan once used by Gen. Douglas MacArthur is currently housed in America's Packard Museum. 

The replica of the 1942 WWII Army staff car used by US General Douglas MacArthur is adorned with an impeccably maintained blue interior including MacArthur's old army hat and his famous corncob pipe. (Picture from: Schmitt)

Moreover, a reader's comment on the Facebook post vehemently denies the story, labeling it as fake. The commenter, a member of the Society of Automotive Historians (SAH), claimed to have debunked the story along with his friend, Darwin Lumley. They pointed out several inconsistencies, such as MacArthur's preference for Cadillacs and the fact that the ship purportedly bringing the Packard back to the United States was sunk off Luzon in Leyte Gulf before the car could have been shipped.

The 1934 Cadillac V16 Series 90 Fleetwood Transformable Town Car Cabriolet, used by Manuel L. Quezon from 1934-1937 and then by General Douglas MacArthur, may now reside in a museum in the Philippines. (Picture from: Wikipedia)

The debunkers highlighted further discrepancies, noting that MacArthur favored Cadillacs during his time in the Philippines, where he owned two Cadillacs with the license plates USA-1 and USA-2. Additionally, the improbability of the Packard making its way back to the USA aboard a sunken vessel raises serious doubts about the authenticity of the story.

The 1950 Chrysler Crown Imperial limousine served as General MacArthur’s personal staff car during its heyday. (Picture from: Hagerty)

Another interesting point raised was the rarity of the 1942 Packard. Most car companies introduced their new models in November, but Packard launched their line in March. Due to the war, all 1942 Packards were immediately requisitioned as war material, with their engines being used in PT boats—two engines per boat. Only a small number remained as staff cars, and the majority of these ended up in Burma (now Myanmar). There, parts inventories and small-scale machine shops kept the 1942 Packards in use as taxis until the 1980s.

The 1950 Chrysler Crown Imperial limousine that served as General MacArthur’s personal staff car now sits on display at the MacArthur Memorial Museum. (Picture from: Philstar)

The tale of General MacArthur's Packard Clipper Eight sedan is undoubtedly a fascinating one, filled with historical intrigue and mystery. Whether true or not, it underscores the allure and mystique surrounding rare wartime vehicles and their supposed ties to legendary figures. Even if the story has been debunked, it remains a captivating piece of automotive folklore, sparking the imagination and curiosity of car enthusiasts and history buffs alike. What do you think? *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | AMERICASPACKARDMUSEUM | MACARTHURMEMORIAL | HAGERTY | JEEPCAPTAIN | OCALAAUTOREPAIRS | NYTIMES | SCHMITT | PHILSTAR | WIKIPEDIA | AUTOHISTORY.ORG ]

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