Re: The Second Packard "Twin Six"

Posted by PackardV12fan On 2008/9/21 14:00:32

hi Kev:

Glad you are not doubting that I "replaced a few Packard axles". Can't prove it.

Havn't had a post-war Packard for over 40 years - receipts are long gone. NEVER EVER had to replace a axle on a GMC or Chrysler Corp. product. Never heard of a pre-war Packard doing that (my recollection is that the "guts" of Packards thru 1949 production were essentially pre-war in execution, if not in the actual parts themselves) (lord knows the axles in our '47 Super Clipper SHOULD have broken, given all the drag racing I did in that thing...!)

Now, to be fair, Chrysler also used that cheapo mickey mouse "ball & trunion" sorry excuse for a U joint that gave us such fits with the Ultramatic-equipped cars, so let's give a "Bronx Cheer" for that too....!

Could be I am a trouble maker - making up / imagined the whole thing about Packard sales exploding with enthusiastic new & "repeat" customers in late '54 and early '55,... then came sales volume disaster when the horrid build quality and tech. defects became knowledge....hmm..maybe I made all that up just to irritate you guys.

In fact, perhaps it is MY fault that Packard isn't in business. All right..I confess..it was me at 1580 East Grand Ave. who said "braces, hell, we WANT those hoods to flutter & shimmy...."

Did you know that I stood in front of every Packard agency in every city all over the United States, in the mid 1950's, and chased away all those lines of people (standing in line to buy new Packards). Shame on me.

Where did you get the idea I wanted to "come in first" ? Is preserving our Packards, helping others with ACCURATE technical info., and trying to accurately understand and portray industrial history a "race" or contest ?

Hmmm...perhaps you are right. Maybe I shouldn't correct some of the inaccuracies that show up from time to time...Some people ARE getting rich off of de-industrializing our country by off-shoring our industry, and "dumbing down" our education and language. Perhaps I should have more respect for their feelings ?

A closing thought. We are going to Wal Mart to buy some house-hold gadgets. Store is full of famous-name brands like G.E., Westinghouse, RCA, Whirlpool, etc. Anywone want to guess what management decisions were made so that those names are simply "tacked on" to products "off-shored"...? Hmm...guess I made up the idea that Packard management decided it would be fun to close down the plant, and glue the name "Packard" on some Studebakers. Now THERE's an idea to breed more customer excitement and loyalsty...!

I submit, we should study carefully the pioneering of the Packard Motor Car Company, on its way up...and on its way DOWN. There is a LOT to contemplate there....!