Re: Synopsis of forces and events leading to '48-'50 styling

Posted by Tim Cole On 2020/3/18 15:52:30

To quote one packard engineer: "We were tooling ourselves to death..." when referring to the multiple wheelbases, chassis, and bodies they were building before the war. So the Clipper line boils down to pure economics. Given the Packard balance sheet didn't improve one lick between 1929 and 1942 it is easy to understand dropping the old shop worn body styles in favor of the Clipper. There is little evidence in the automotive press of anybody bemoaning the postwar styling. The notion of damaged tooling gains some credence considering how much the ZIS built bodies appear a hybrid of Cadillac and Packard styling.

While the bathtub look became controversal among those suffering from the Gatsby syndrome, good art is always controversal, and in some ways the bathtubs looked better than the Clipper. The argument that Cadilllac styling sunk Packard is something I don't find compelling. The Reinhardt styling is much lighter and more modern than the bloated GM products of the same period. Although I always thought the grille was too heavy. However, Cadillac had a superior powertrain in all respects from 1949 onward. When I get behind the wheel of a period Chevrolet with stick shift I am impressed by how balanced they are. I can't say that about those Packards. But it isn't until 1963-64 when the automotive press began calling Cadillac a true world class luxury car.

That can't be said today. The Cadillac sedans of today don't ride any better than a $15,000 Toyota Yaris.