Packard-Bentley Mavis

The Packard-Bentley Mavis is undoubtedly one of the most ingenious and craziest vehicles ever built. With its huge 42-liter engine, 24 exhaust pipes and a length of 6.4 meters, the vehicle is an impressive creation.

Chris Williams, member of the non-profit Auto + Technik Museum Sinsheim e. V., is the creator of this extraordinary vehicle. He invested seven years of his life, a lot of money and technical know-how in the construction of the Packard Bentley. Most of the parts come from old classic cars, which Williams jokingly describes as "the greatest waste of time, money and engineering." Williams named his Mavis after the fictional female character Mavis Riley from the British television series Coronation Street of the 1960s/70s. Like her, Mavis is an impressive combination of robustness and character.

The Packard Bentley is based on a 1930's Bentley 8 liter chassis and is powered by a supercharged Packard engine originally used in a US Navy patrol torpedo boat during World War II. The engine delivers an impressive 1,500 hp and has a torque of around 2,700 Nm.

The consumption of the Packard-Bentley is enormous with 15 liters of fuel per minute under full acceleration. In order to carry enough fuel, the vehicle is equipped with three tanks, including a 200 liter main tank.

The driving experience in the Packard-Bentley is unique. The steering wheel is surrounded by switches and controls reminiscent of a fighter plane. The dashboard is designed according to aircraft specifications and there is even a Spitfire trigger button under the steering wheel.

Since its debut in 2010, the Packard-Bentley Mavis has been making waves at classic car events. The vehicle can be admired as a permanent loan in the Technik Museum Sinsheim Speyer at the Speyer site. The annual BRAZZELTAG on the second weekend in May offers a good opportunity to experience "Mavis" in action . The vehicle's spectacular performances of pipes, flames and deafening sound delight BRAZZELTAG fans, who celebrate the bowler-hatted British driver.