Re: A Marketing Anomaly to Ponder

Posted by 58L8134 On 2014/8/1 9:29:45

Hi

Good analysis. On Owen's question of why would they initially planned the convertible and Mayfair as 200 series models, that speaks of the total emphasis by management upon the mid-priced market. As such, the 300 and Patrician 400 got short-shrift, deprived of the then hot-selling hardtops and showroom-draw convertible so beneficial to their main competitors Buick and Cadillac.

While the upgraded 250 Mayfair and convertible are nice cars, they were pale efforts compared to what should have been available and what the Super and Custom Eights had been. Trying to promote the '54 Convertible, given it's 122" wb and overall length against the 130' wb Cadillac 62 with its long flanks to a public then in love with the same.....! The only consolation for Packard was that Lincoln had painted themselves into the same corner with their downsized 123" wb "Road Race" models.

The Briggs/Chrysler management changes shouldn't have caused much problem during 1950-51 when the 24th Series was in development. After all, the Connor Avenue plant had supplied all the 22nd and 23rd Series sedans and convertibles plus long-wheelbase models without such delays. They had even taken on the long-wheelbase sedan production initially handled by Henney for the 21st Series. So, capacity for hardtops and convertibles shouldn't have been a problem. Ferry and company just weren't quick to realize how the lack of such higher image models was a detriment, how they could have been a boon to overall sales.

Steve