Re: Curbside Classic: Packard 200 Article

Posted by Rusty O\'Toole On 2013/11/25 15:09:44

If you want to be an anorak I believe they made sixes for the White truck company up to 1951. But the last six cylinder catalog models for sale to the general public (not commercial, taxicab or special order) was 1947.

This is not a quibble. The original story implied that Packard ruined their name and reputation by building cheap six cylinder cars and Nance reversed this. In the first place, building six cylinder cars did not ruin their reputation, any more than building sixes ruined Rolls Royce, Bentley, Jaguar, BMW or Mercedes. In the second place, as far as the public was concerned, Packard made eight cylinder cars exclusively after 1947.

Other cars that were 8 cylinder only: Cadillac, Buick, Mercury, Lincoln (after 1948).

This put them in exclusive territory. Rivals like Chrysler, DeSoto, Oldsmobile, Hudson and Nash were selling in the Packard price range but all made six cylinder cars. Somehow this never counts with those who believe making sixes degraded the Packard name but never hurt anybody else.