In 1925, The Packard Motor Car Company realized that testing their products on Detroit's streets had its limitations and that it was time to build a proper testing facility. It began buying farmland in rural Shelby Township, Michigan and retained renowned industrial architect Albert Kahn to design and oversee the construction of a grand showplace, befitting one of the most prestigious and successful auto companies of the golden-era classic production.

Packard dedicated the $1 million Proving Grounds in 1927 and began a rigorous testing program. It shaped the planted area between two driveways like the famous Packard radiator grille. The driveways led to grand wrought-iron gates that opened onto lavishly landscaped grounds, rich with flowering trees, roses and other ornamental landscaping.

On the right were the Tudor-revival Lodge and Garage buildings, painted a warm cream color that contrasted nicely with the multi-colored slate roof, red brickwork and brown trim. The Lodge was home to the Proving Grounds manager and family and featured three fireplaces, nine bedrooms, four bathrooms, hardwood floors, dormitories for test drivers and garage space for eight cars.

A famous ad shows a new Packard passing through the Proving Grounds entrance gates after being picked at random from the assembly line to be tested on roads containing gravel, mud, water pits, bumps, curves, and railroad ties.

The weather extremes of Michigan's four seasons added to the already challenging testing conditions. In contrast to the rugged test roads, an exceptionally smooth 2.5-mile oval track was built for high-speed testing and so well engineered that drivers could travel around the banked curves more than 100 mph without holding the steering wheel. In 1928 it was hailed as "the world’s fastest speedway " when Leon Duray set a world speed record of 148.7 mph.

The Garage building across the driveway from the Lodge contained experimental and engineering laboratories allowing the testing of engines, chassis, electrical components, fuels and lubricants under various conditions.

Packard also used the Proving Grounds for the development and testing of aircraft engines. In the 300-acre track infield, the company constructed a runway that led to a 4,000-square-foot hangar. Famed aviator, Charles Lindbergh, visited the site to test-fly a Packard-powered airplane in 1929. Packard developed the first diesel engine for airplanes here in 1929. Captain Lionel Woolson, a test pilot for Packard, was killed in a plane crash near Attica, New York, and mourners scattered his ashes over the Proving Grounds.

A Division of General Motors rented the Proving Grounds in 1938 to test its products and even borrowed the Packard Towing Dynamometer for specific tests. During World War II, Chrysler Defense Engineering leased the entire Proving Grounds to test tanks and other armored vehicles and added a building next to the Garage building.

To prove the reliability of the new Packard V-8 for 1955, a Patrician sedan was driven continuously around the track, 24 hours a day for 10 days, stopping only for fuel, tires, driver changes and minor maintenance. When the run was over, the drivers drove the Patrician 25,000 miles, the distance around the earth, at an average speed of 104.7 mph.

In 1958, Packard sold the property to Curtiss-Wright, who sold it to Ford Motor Company in 1961. Ford used portions of the property for various uses over the years, but the critical buildings and artifacts were left untouched and have survived in surprisingly good condition. Part of the survival story is because Albert Kahn designed fireproof, steel-framed buildings that were state-of-the-art in their day and built of the finest materials available.

By the year 1998, Ford had determined that the property's best use would be for development. The United States Postal Service was interested in a portion of the land for a distribution center, and plans were underway to clear whatever was in the way of construction.

It was unclear to local historians and Packard enthusiasts just what was in the way of progress, but the aircraft hangar, called the Lindbergh Hangar by some, was scheduled for demolition. Speculation rumored that the Timing Tower and Lodge would go as well. A swell of public opinion in the local and old-car community caused the township to withhold demolition permits.

At this time, officials determined that the property was eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Specific rules apply to governmental agencies and historical sites, so the post office decided to look elsewhere for a property.

A group of interested historians from many walks of life, including the Shelby Township Historical Committee, Packard Clubs, the Classic Car Club and the Antique Automobile Club, joined together with the elected officials of Shelby Township and citizens to save a significant portion of the Proving Grounds.

The Packard Motor Car Foundation offered to open negotiations with Ford. Extensive negotiations and re-negotiations led to Ford's offer to gift the seven acres of land containing the grand entrance gates, the Lodge building, the Garage building, the elevated water storage tank, and the Chrysler Defense building to the Foundation for restoration and perpetual care. An additional seven acres was set aside for later acquisition that contains the timing tower, a 458-foot section of the test track, and the relocated Lindbergh hangar.

Ford handed over the keys in 2002 and the Foundation, through donor support, immediately made extensive landscaping improvements removing years of over-growth, painted the elevated water tank, moved the Lindbergh hangar to a new foundation on the site, brought electricity to the property, and re-roofed over 27,000 square feet of the flat portion of the Garage and Chrysler Defense buildings.

This process included the repair and replacement of some trusses and beams. Original copper vents, gutters, and downspouts were carefully removed, refurbished or replaced with exact duplicates and returned to their original locations to National Park Service standards for historic preservation. This rehabilitation marked an important milestone in preserving the property as the new roof ensured that no further deterioration would occur in any of the buildings.

Broad support and input from all collectors and historians are still needed to allow the Foundation to complete a master plan for the property. Current proposals include an "Arsenal of Democracy" museum dedicated to all automobile companies' contributions during wartime. Individuals can rent the renovated Garage building as an event center for business meetings and weddings.

Much of our American automotive heritage is lost, and we are indeed fortunate to have had the opportunity to save this historic treasure. Through a series of favorable circumstances, it has survived in almost perfect original condition. This facility is not a new building dedicated to the past, but one of the last remaining sites built by one of America's great companies during the golden era of classic car production.

The site has been accepted by the Automotive National Heritage Area, which is implemented by the National Park Service in southeast Michigan. Federal, state, and local grants are forthcoming, and we welcome your participation as well. We will look back and be proud that we participated in saving this last remaining treasure from the golden era of American automobile production.

-- Bud Juneau, vice president Packard Motor Car Foundation, Brentwood California