Re: Nice local Packard

Posted by 58L8134 On 2016/3/13 10:13:38

Hi

Those Nash Ambassadors are some of the most elegant, impressive, quality cars ever to issue from Kenosha. For the luxury car owner at the nadir of the Depression who was determined to continue driving a quality car but couldn't quite swing a $2,385 Packard Eight 1002 or found the $2,150 Eight 1001 models lacking the space and impressive look they sought, an $1,855 Ambassador 1190 could easily fill the bill.

The downside was Nash had entered the near-luxury market with their 1930 490 Twin-Ignition Eight" to take advantage of the 'prosperity' which was rapidly disappearing. Through the succession of Series 890, 990, 1090, 1190 and 1290, the top-line Eights developed into full-blown luxury cars for reasonable prices. How well they sold is unknown as figures are unavailable.

After the 1934 models, Charlie Nash realized competing in the shrinking luxury segment was futile for a medium-price carmaker. Coming to the same conclusion as did Studebaker, both Ambassador and President became their eight cylinder versions of their more popular sixes. Shortly, they would find a worthy competitor from East Grand Boulevard vying for those same limited Depression dollars. At least in the case of the Studebaker President, the 120 was a run-away success by comparison.

Steve