Jay Leno has an impressive collection of classic cars, but his latest garage visit brings together two very different machines from one of America’s most celebrated luxury automakers. One dates back to 1902, while the other represents the final generation of Detroit-built Packards.
In a recent episode of Jay Leno’s Garage, automotive historian Donald Osborne joins Leno to examine a 1902 Packard Model F and a 1956 Packard Caribbean convertible. The two cars show just how dramatically automotive engineering changed during the company’s lifetime.
The Model F comes from the Audrain Automobile Museum in Newport, Rhode Island, and is one of only four known surviving examples. The Caribbean belongs to Leno himself and represents Packard’s final year of production in Detroit.
Although separated by 54 years, both vehicles were considered impressive luxury machines in their respective eras. Leno and Osborne explore their engineering, unusual features, and current collector values before taking the much older Packard for a drive.
The 1902 Packard Has One Enormous Cylinder
Packard’s origins trace back to James Ward Packard’s dissatisfaction with a Winton automobile he purchased in 1898. According to the story, manufacturer Alexander Winton dismissed his complaints and challenged him to build a better car.
Packard accepted that challenge, producing his first automobile in 1899. The 1902 Model F features a massive 3.0-liter single-cylinder engine producing approximately 12 horsepower, paired with a three-speed transmission featuring an H-pattern shifter.
It originally cost around $2,500, an extraordinary amount when an average American home reportedly cost roughly $1,200. The Model F also marked the end of Packard’s single-cylinder era.
The 1956 Caribbean Was A Completely Different Animal
Leno’s 1956 Caribbean convertible demonstrates how far Packard had progressed, featuring a powerful V8 with two four-barrel carburetors. Its luxurious interior includes reversible seat cushions, allowing occupants to switch between different upholstery surfaces.
However, the most interesting feature is its self-leveling torsion-bar suspension. Leno demonstrates how the system automatically adjusts the car’s height when weight is added or removed.
Both Packards Are Worth Serious Money
Osborne estimates that a well-preserved 1956 Caribbean convertible could be worth approximately $100,000 today, compared with around $80,000 five years earlier. Its rarity and complicated mechanical systems make properly maintained examples particularly desirable.
The 1902 Model F is even more valuable, with Osborne estimating its current worth at approximately $200,000. He reckons a similar example would have been worth around $130,000 five years ago.
Leno Takes The 124-Year-Old Packard For A Drive
The episode concludes with Leno and Osborne taking the Model F onto the streets of Burbank, California. Despite its primitive appearance, the antique Packard handles the journey surprisingly well, although Leno discovers that its gear lever needs some encouragement to stay in position.
It’s an unusual opportunity to see a car from the earliest days of American motoring actually being driven. The fact that a 1902 Packard can still drive on modern streets makes the comparison with its 1956 successor even more entertaining.