Re: DESIGN IMITATION?
Posted by Mahoning63 On 2010/11/8 11:42:40
Thanks for the info on the torsion suspension, very informative. If lowering proved unworkable could always modify the Clipper suspension but it sure would be nice to throw every advancement Packard had developed at this car... assuming one had the money to do such a project in the first place.
Here's a few takes on what's possible. Once again many thanks to the owner of the beautiful '53 Convertible that these images are based on.
The first is a standard convertible with the body from the door's rear edge forward sectioned 2 inches. The nice thing about this design is that it retains the original decklid, lights and grill and involves only slight modification to the rear fender. The rest of course is major surgury. The key element is the body/fender kick-up just behind the doors, giving the car's rear half some uplift and shortening the backlight when the top is up for a very sporty appearance. It's an old trick still in common use today. Fins served the same purpose. Had Packard stuck with an evolutionary design theme for 1955 and coaxed more money from the bankers they might have been able to take this approach. Not to open up a can of worms but Cadillac was very consistent from 1941 onward with their design language while Packard was more like Lincoln of that era - constantly changing. Perhaps greater continuity might have been prudent.
The second uses the Pan American theme. Car's front half is sectioned the same 2 inches relative to rear to give the beltline kick-up, then the entire body is sectioned an additional 1.5 inches. Suspension is lowered 1.5 inches too. This is my favorite.
Attach file:
(92.75 KB)
(86.26 KB)
Here's a few takes on what's possible. Once again many thanks to the owner of the beautiful '53 Convertible that these images are based on.
The first is a standard convertible with the body from the door's rear edge forward sectioned 2 inches. The nice thing about this design is that it retains the original decklid, lights and grill and involves only slight modification to the rear fender. The rest of course is major surgury. The key element is the body/fender kick-up just behind the doors, giving the car's rear half some uplift and shortening the backlight when the top is up for a very sporty appearance. It's an old trick still in common use today. Fins served the same purpose. Had Packard stuck with an evolutionary design theme for 1955 and coaxed more money from the bankers they might have been able to take this approach. Not to open up a can of worms but Cadillac was very consistent from 1941 onward with their design language while Packard was more like Lincoln of that era - constantly changing. Perhaps greater continuity might have been prudent.
The second uses the Pan American theme. Car's front half is sectioned the same 2 inches relative to rear to give the beltline kick-up, then the entire body is sectioned an additional 1.5 inches. Suspension is lowered 1.5 inches too. This is my favorite.
Attach file:
(92.75 KB)
(86.26 KB)
This Post was from: https://packardinfo.com/xoops/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=63822