Packard’s Guardians: John MacArthur and the Legacy of Three Generations

by Chuck Ryntz /Amanda Demo/August 15, 2025

Packard’s Guardians:
John MacArthur and the Legacy of Three Generations

In the story of the Packard Proving Grounds’ survival and revival, few names carry the generational weight and heartfelt dedication of John MacArthur. As a former president of the Packard Motor Car Foundation (PMCF), John played a critical role in preserving the site—but his connection to the Proving Grounds runs far deeper than boardrooms and negotiations. It’s a bond forged over decades, shaped by time spent at the historic testing facility with his father and grandfather, both of whom lived and breathed Packard.

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Left to Right: John MacArthur, Donald MacArthur, Frederick MacArthur

A Family Built by Packard

John MacArthur is the grandson of Frederick A. MacArthur, who began his career at Packard Motor Car Company in 1928 and rose to become Chief Body Engineer by 1953. His son, Dr. Donald F. MacArthur, John’s father, grew up in the shadow of the company’s innovation. Donald regularly visited the Packard Proving Grounds as a young man, often alongside Frederick. He even witnessed a portion of the famous 25,000-mile V-8 endurance run—a defining engineering achievement in Packard’s postwar era.

The 1933 Super Eight Club Sedan that once belonged to John MacArthur

Donald MacArthur’s 1910 Model 18 Close Coupled Touring

But perhaps the most indelible memory passed down to John was the summer of 1956. With Packard’s Detroit operations nearing an end, Frederick took his son Donald to the Proving Grounds for one last drive. Inside the quiet, nearly abandoned complex, the two men climbed into the now-legendary 1957 prototype, “Black Bess”, for a high-speed run around the 2½-mile oval track. The car’s crude appearance belied its mechanical sophistication—featuring an improved engine, new transmission, and an updated torsion-level suspension system. They pushed the car past 100 mph, one last triumphant demonstration of what Packard could have become. Days later, Black Bess was gone—scrapped before it ever saw production.

That moment, like Packard itself, left a lasting impression. For Frederick, who had lost a son just five years earlier in a tragic accident, the closing of Packard was another kind of heartbreak. He retired from Ford in 1964, but said working there was “just a job,” while Packard had been “like a family.” That same devotion would shape his grandson’s mission decades later.

The MacArthur’s Elm-lined North Parkway

Leading the Charge for Preservation

John MacArthur became a Trustee of the Packard Motor Car Foundation in 1999, just two years after its founding. As the vision for site preservation became urgent, he stepped into a leadership role that would define the next decade of his life.

2012 Mortgage Burning Ceremony. (Left to Right: Bill and Barbara Parfet, Dick Kane, Frank and Milli Ricciardelli, Linda and Dick Kughn, John MacArthur)

From 2001 to 2009, and again from 2010 to 2012, John served as President of the PMCF. His tenure was marked by persistence, diplomacy, and long-range vision. Among his most significant achievements was chairing the committee that negotiated a 2½-year deal with Ford Land to secure the 14-acre Packard Proving Grounds site. It began as a lease agreement in 2002, but John and the Foundation eventually succeeded in convincing Ford Land to donate the easterly 7 acres in 2005, and purchase the westerly 7 acres in 2008, with funding provided through a loan from philanthropist Richard Kughn. The final mortgage was ceremonially burned in 2012.

A Vision That Lives On

John MacArthur’s goals were straightforward: save, restore, and use the site. But executing that vision required an immense network of volunteers, funding sources, and community support. Under his leadership, the Foundation:

Restored core historic buildings and infrastructure
Attracted funding through private donations and grants
Positioned the site as a hub for weddings, corporate events, educational programming, and car shows

Thanks to his efforts, the Packard Proving Grounds today is self-sustaining, with operating costs covered by event rentals and its reputation growing through continued public engagement.

July 9, 2002 – John MacArthur being presented the ceremonial key to the Packard Proving Grounds.

Legacy of a Guardian

John MacArthur’s story is not just one of preservation—it’s about inheritance, both of family memory and a sense of responsibility. What began as a childhood curiosity shaped by stories of roaring engines and prototype test runs evolved into a lifelong commitment to ensure those same stories would be preserved for future generations.

In the shadows of Black Bess and the echoes of the high-speed oval, John became not just a steward of history, but one of the most important guardians of Packard’s legacy.

The MacArthur’s Elm-lined North Parkway