Packard by Fernando Gomez, Uruguay

2009: Brave + Bold. America’s Next Iconic Vehicle.

Scale Model on Display at Michelin Challenge Design™

Biography

Fernando Gomez, 48, lives in Uruguay and his passion for car design began as a child. He studied mechanical drawing and technology at the Uruguayan School of Technologic Studies. He worked as a drawer for many enterprises, but none of them were related to cars. In his country, the automotive industry is not developed, but he continues with his car designing passion.

In 1983, he sent a design to the Jaguar Company and they answered giving their congratulations and animating to him the design based of their models KJ 12 and KJS, but he could not continue with the project because he was studying Astronomy and Physics.

He is currently an Astronomy teacher, but his passion for car design has never waned. For him, cars are the perfect summary of technology and art.

Description

When I began my project, I searched the history of American cars and found tradition, innovation and quality. The inspiration from these values is what led me to reference the Packard cars.

In 1916, Packard introduced the first V12 engine in massive production and in the Second World War, Packard produced airplane engines.

Do you remember the old airplane engines? I propose a modified version with articulate connecting rods to reduce the external size of a big block engine; a Super V12 cylinder in 3 banks of 4 cylinders.

Do you remember the whitewall tires? I propose a PAX system with supplementary external hoops of rubber like aluminum to simulate bigger wheels.

In 1955, Packard used a torsion-level-suspension. I think that the electronic technology with sensors can make a more efficient torsion bar suspension to swinging control and added with articulated links to control camber angle. This variable geometry suspension (VGS) is supplemented with rear transverse-transaxle gearbox for better mass distribution, thus improving stability.