Weekend Auto Show Features a Pack of Packards

When Robert Escalante was 16, he brought his 1941 Packard to a downtown Santa Ana shop for repairs.

Escalante, now 44, liked it so much he decided to stay, and now owns Custom Auto Service on French Street.

Today and Sunday, Escalante will be part of an auto show that he expects to bring an unusually large display of approximately 50 Packard automobiles.

The first Fashion Island Packard Showcase in Newport Beach will take over the courtyard next to Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus.

Escalante is helping organize the event because he wants to pass along the Packard passion he has had since he was a teen.

“A lot of the older guys are getting older, but they’re not exposing the cars to the younger folk,” he said.

A restored Packard, such as a 1934 black Club Sedan that will be on display this weekend, is not expensive by luxury car standards. Escalante valued the car at about $55,000.

(The selling price in 1934? $2,670.)

The independent Packard automobile company, founded by brothers William and James Packard, produced the automobiles out of Warren, Ohio. and then Detroit from 1899 into the 1950s, according to Escalante.

The car is known by its elongated, vertical grill, and models included convertibles and limousines.

This weekend’s car show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Information: (714) 543-2980