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

Posted by ECAnthony On 2017/8/5 9:31:49

Had it not been for the Korean War, Packard might well have set up body production back at East Grand Boulevard in time for the 26th Series, in late 1952. According to Robert Neal's "Packard - 1951 to 1954" book (Chapter 3), a sub-committee had been set up on April 12, 1950 for just such a purpose. However, the $2 million cost to accomplish this was, by August 17, 1950, deemed too high a cost. The August 17, 1950 minutes of the sub-committee state: "The present situation which has developed with this trouble in Korea, which indicates that the procurement of materials will become increasingly difficult and may end in their allocation, that it is not an appropriate time to consider the project further."

As to the discussion about the new V-8 engine - Nance's team did not authorize production of the engine until March of 1953. Serious discussions were taking place before then, however. Robert Neal quoted the minutes of the Operating Committee meeting of January 2, 1951 in his book "Master Motor Builders" (Chapter 7): "A preliminary cost study of the V-8 engine for use in the 26th Series [1953] has been completed by the Manufacturing Division, and Mr. Reifel reported that it indicated a tool cost of approximately $13 million with a slight increase in piece cost." "By January of 1952," Neal wrote, "the committee had approved spending $1.2 million for the development of the necessary machine tools to set up a modern new engine production facility. By the end of 1953, $3 million had been spent on design, tooling and prototype production of a new V-8 engine, and the company was contemplating further outlay of some $14 million before complete production facilities would be in place. Necessary funds to complete this process were not committed until 1954... There is ample evidence that the engine was designed and prototypes built by early 1953."