Re: 1953/4 Caribbean 4-door hardtop sedan exploration
Posted by 58L8134 On 2020/3/28 8:42:27
I love it! By the 1953 model year, Packard badly needed new models that would be considered 'fresh and exciting' to attract more buyers, it couldn't wait until 1955. Hardtops were all the rage, a four door version was almost guaranteed to be a major hit. The pillared hardtop-sedan was a first step to the fully B-pillarless four door hardtop to follow.
To see how well it could have succeeded, look at the 1955 Mercury Montclair sport sedan which arrived mid-season, quickly sold 20,624 cars, 18% of all four door '55 Mercurys. For 1956, a total of 74,473 of both the four door sport sedans and hardtop "Phaetons", 24% of 1956 total sales. By comparison, the regular four door sedan dropped to 15.9%. The sport sedan and the four door hardtop were both based on the body series that began with 1952
Being a leader in a popular new body style could only have done them good. Check the immediate popularity of the '55 GM four door hardtops to see what an untapped market was ready for the taking.
Steve
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To see how well it could have succeeded, look at the 1955 Mercury Montclair sport sedan which arrived mid-season, quickly sold 20,624 cars, 18% of all four door '55 Mercurys. For 1956, a total of 74,473 of both the four door sport sedans and hardtop "Phaetons", 24% of 1956 total sales. By comparison, the regular four door sedan dropped to 15.9%. The sport sedan and the four door hardtop were both based on the body series that began with 1952
Being a leader in a popular new body style could only have done them good. Check the immediate popularity of the '55 GM four door hardtops to see what an untapped market was ready for the taking.
Steve
Attach file:
(253.89 KB)
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