Gold-Plated Hot Rods

In Manhattan's Grand Central Palace last week, some of the fanciest cars in the world were shown off at New York's first International Motor Sports Show.

Packard unveiled its new three-passenger convertible, "Pan American," only 36 inches high with the top down. The 18-foot-long car has a 165-horsepower engine with a built-in air scoop in the hood to feed air to the carburetor, and a top speed of 135 m.p.h. Its instrument panel is finished in oyster-white leather, along with leather trim in the steering wheel and door handles. When it goes into limited production next fall, the Pan American will sell for about $6,000.

Other eye-catchers:

¶ The Phantom-Corsair, built in 1937 by Rust (57 Varieties) Heinz at a cost of $35,000 and now owned by TV Comedian Herb Shriner. A cocoonlike vehicle with a Cord engine that can do up to 135 m.p.h., it has a backseat bar, operated by pushbuttons.

¶ An "Airphibian," a combination plane and car that will do 50 m.p.h. on the ground and no m.p.h. in the air. All the owner has to do is drive to the airport, fit on the car's wings, tail section and a propeller, and take off. Planned price: $10,000 to $15,000.

¶ The Jetmobile, built by Richard Harp, 27, a hot rodder from Boonsboro, Md. He spent two years and $2,500 on his three-wheeled car, whose body is made of three airplane belly gasoline tanks. With a Lycoming 75-horsepower aircraft engine in the rear, it can do an estimated 120 m.p.h.