Re: Clipper Bodies

Posted by 58L8134 On 2014/11/6 20:31:56

Hi

Sharing bodies across price segments became necessary when the all-steel body became industry standard. Tooling costs were significantly higher than the old composite steel over wood structure and had to be amortized over a greater number of units.

The public accepted the practice, GM had been promoting "Body by Fisher" since the late 1920's. Chrysler was also an early adherent, it's body sharing across makes obvious to even the casual observer.

Packard, and the other independent makes, suffered to the degree that without another price segment make to share and amortize costs, every series they offered ended up with the same series of bodies. Definitely a marketing disadvantage.

The best way to understand this was when the 1940 GM Torpedo C-body arrived, it was available from Pontiac through Cadillac. But, no one balked, because a '40 Pontiac Torpedo Eight sold for $1072 as compared to a Cadillac 62 at $1745. Different price segment covered by different makes. While the body was the same, the chassis weren't, nor was anyone likely to confuse which was the solid, medium-priced value and which was the prestige/luxury car. GM had done a fine job of establishing a make/price structure in the public conscious.

Unfortunately for Packard, the idea of a Packard at $867 and also $1655+ didn't square in their minds inured to "A Car For Every Purse and Purpose"

Steve