Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Gear Head Tuesday: Late to the Party - The Packard V-8
https://56packardman.com/2018/08/28/gear-head-tuesday-late-to-the-party-the-packard-v-8/

Another blogger has this post about Packards:
https://disaffectedmusings.com/2018/08/28/tuesday-notes/

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Stuart Blond provided this interesting insight into the genesis of the Packard V-8:

"Packard's management authorized production of the V-8 engine in March of 1953. Serious discussions were taking place before then, however. Robert J. Neal quoted the minutes of the Operating Committee meeting of January 2, 1951 in his book, Master Motor Builders: "A preliminary cost study of the V-8 engine for use in the 26th Series [1953] has been completed by the Manufacturing Division, and Mr. Reifel reported that it indicated a tool cost of approximately $13 million with a slight increase in piece cost." "By January of 1952," Neal wrote, "the committee had approved spending $1.2 million for the development of the necessary machine tools to set up a modern new engine production facility. By the end of 1953, $3 million had been spent on design, tooling and prototype production of a new V-8 engine, and the company was contemplating further outlay of some $14 million before complete production facilities would be in place. Necessary funds to complete this process were not committed until 1954... There is ample evidence that the engine was designed and prototypes built by early 1953."

Thank you for a very thorough and well written article. The discussion about the 1956 Studebaker Golden Hawk pulled together several scattered pieces to explain it clearly.

However, one must take issue with the title, "Late to the Party". It's not as if there were deadline; rather it was an ongoing process. Every manufacturer other than Willys introduced a new OHV8 design between 1949 and 1955.

1949 - Cadillac and Oldsmobile
1951 - Studebaker and Chrysler
1952 - Lincoln and DeSoto
1953 - Dodge and Buick
1954 - Ford/Mercury
1955 - Packard, Plymouth, Chevrolet and Pontiac

Is is logical to single out Packard as "late to the (V8) party", when three much larger and better funded marrques, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Plymouth, were on the same time line?

One might point out Studebaker was among the earliest with an OHV8 and it didn't save them.

As we all know, the independents were doomed. It was only a matter of how and when they'd go under. There will always be debate if Studebaker, Hudson, Packard and Nash had merged and if a magician with the talent of a Lee Iacocca became the CEO, they may have lasted longer and may even have fought Chrysler in the race to the bottom.

jack vines

... hee hee ...

As I wrote at the SDC forum, my point was that as "The Master Motor Builder", Packard should have anticipated the V-8 trend and been among the first of the luxury car makes to offer a V-8. You are correct that Chevrolet and the other you listed introduced V-8s the same year as Packard. The problem is that Packard was the LAST of the luxury makes with a V-8.

Of course, with Christopher running the show, that didn't happen ...

"Late to the Party" more accurately applies only to being the last upper-medium priced and luxury car maker to field an OHV V8.

As the general perception that better performance was delivered by the OHV V8, whether actually the case or not, any car maker who couldn't provide this new engine was going to be at a market disadvantage within their price segments.

Steve

<i>" any car maker who couldn't provide this new engine was going to be at a market disadvantage within their price segments.
"</i>

You are exactly right, Steve!

The "Master Motor Builder" should have led the charge on this one.

Cudda shudda wudda ...

Quote:
Steve (58L8134), aside from performance comparisons the V-engine made itself conspicuous by shorter installation length.

Quote:
Jack (Jack Vines), thanks for boiling it down.