Re: Is it just me, or are there a fair number of '57-'58 Packards out there?

Posted by 58L8134 On 2008/12/8 19:53:08

Hi

I've been informally tracking the '57 & '58 Packards for about twenty years, and yes, agree they seem to have a high survival rate for such a low production car. The survival rate for all V-8 Packards, be they Detroit or South Bend cars, seems quite high. I'm glad of it, too.

Conjecturing on why so many survive, I think they were set aside by folks because they were "last Packards", some in hopes of monetary gain if held long enough, some for sentimental reasons, not wanting to give up the last example they might ever own of a make they came to like. Folks hate to let go of the last of any good product they might own.

I recall seeing '55-'56 Packards advertised for sale in the 'Swap n' Sell' in the back of Motor Trend in the '60 when they were barely ten years old.

I understand the reservation some Packard folks have had toward the South Bend cars, though I think it's just trying to ignore the realities toward no real good end. We can't change history, no matter how much we'd like to. I like to think of myself of a Packard person with a realistic view of total Packard history, however disappointing the end of it might be.

Of the Studebaker folks, they seem to embrace the South Bend Packards more readily, in general, holding a realistic view of their cars and the company, even with all it's disappointments. This is one of the things I like about the Studebaker folks, in contrast to the "we're number one and our cars are perfect" attitude held by so many Big Three enthusiast I meet.

Steve