SOUTHBAY
CHARITIES SINCE 1967
PERSPECTIVES
NEWSLETTER
An official
publication of the
Palo Alto
Concours dé Elegance
Volume 2,
Number 2,
February
1999
MAGAZINE ARTICLES
Otis Chandler Named
Honorary Chair
Our Packard Chair
The 100 Point 1933 "Perfect Packard"
V-12 Convertible Coupe,
owned by Vic and Cecilia Nelson
Award
winning 1939 Packard Model
1707 5 passenger V-12 Touring Sedan, owned by
Vic and Cecilia Nelson
OUR PACKARD CHAIR
By Gill Gifix
When I went looking for someone to help me put together the Packard display, one name kept coming up. "This guy has done it all", I was told. "He finds them, builds them, shows them, and oh, by the way, one of his Packards took Best in Show at Palo Alto in 1991." That's all I needed. I was on Vic Nelson's doorstep that day insisting that he take charge of the Packard exhibit. Vic and his wife, Cecilia, have been involved in the world of Packards for many years. In 1950, Vic worked for an ambulance company in San Jose whose equipment consisted of nine Custom Eight Packards. This was the beginning. Then in 1962, the Nelsons attended a Concours and saw a 1929 and two 1930 Packard Roadsters entered in the show. That was the true beginning. Vic started to research the history of Packard and learned that Packard built their last roadster in 1931, the year he was born. He had to have one! In 1963, Vic purchased a 1931 Packard Roadster which was still undergoing restoration. Then suddenly, a 1934 Packard Three Window Coupe appeared in his garage. Soon the collection included a 1931 Packard Sedan and many late model non-classic Packards, two of which were convertibles. The list of Packards has since grown to include a 1929 Roadster, a 1931 Limousine, a 1933 V-12 Convertible Coupe, and a 1939 V-12 Sedan and, needless to say, the search continues. Vic and Cecilia have been members of the Classic Car Club of America (CCCA) since the mid-seventies and are involved in the Packard clubs at many levels. The Nelsons live in Palo Alto. Their house has many garages where Vic spends much of his time restoring and maintaining his collection. And now, Vic can add "Chairing the Packard exhibit at the Palo Alto Concours" to his impressive resume. For more information on Packards at Palo Alto, call Vic at (650) 941-8587, Fax (650) 947-9456, or call the Concours office at (650) 948-1027.