Re: What would a traditional Packard "Senior" have looked like in 1951?

Posted by 58L8134 On 2017/8/16 13:50:08

Hi

As the adage goes, if one intends to affectively compete, one has at least to match the market leader then best it. Still holds true. Conversely, if one makes a half-hearted effort, the results generally aren't satisfactory. In the Contours case, so much emphasis was placed on the middle-priced 200, the near luxury 300 and luxury Patrician 400 received short shrift. The conservative approach under first Christopher then Ferry did them no long-term favors .

We've read how Reinhart was instructed during the Contour development to raise the belt-line to match that of the 1949 Oldsmobile 88 because glass was heavier and costlier. Industry trends were to greater glass area for improved visibility all around; plus lower overall height, the latter lead by the Hudson step-down, fully 7.6 inches lower than its 1947 model . Lower cowl and belt-line heights would have furthered this objective, rendering the car more attractive, keeping it current as the trends grew. Benchmarking on an Olds nearly two years on the market by the Contours introduction put them behind from the start.

Benchmarking on a competitor's car can yield rewards if the features are those showing preference: impressive length sold luxury cars then, pure and simple. Most buyers had no need of an impressive front-axle-to-cowl length or an oversized, extended-deck trunk but gladly shelled out extra money to drive cars with just that. This extended to more than just sedans, hardtop coupes and convertibles with both proportions found great acceptance.

Designer were thinking in terms of restyles or whole new bodies but few thought of a further re-proportioning of the existing package. The Contours still had good 'bones' that simply needed refinement, to be brought from behind into a leading position as Paul's explorations have shown.

Another no-brainer for both Ferry and Nance: "hard-toping" the sedan bodies, even if it wasn't initially completely B-pillar-less, but had the appearance of that exciting new type. The savvy marketer would have noted the explosive growth then current in two door hardtop sales, made the logical leap that the next big thing would be a four door version . Achieving a 58" to 60" OAH should have been an additional objective when changing the greenhouse. Further motivation should have been the relative premium price for hardtops by all makers. As one moved up into middle-priced, near luxury and full luxury preference for hardtops became dominant.

In a period of rising affluence the 1950's were, the automobile still a major status symbol, these trends were all there, available for both Ferry and Nance to utilize to return Packard into again a truly competitive player.

Steve