Re: 1953/4 Caribbean 4-door hardtop sedan exploration

Posted by Mahoning63 On 2020/3/29 14:31:50

"I think Packard would then need two lines in their group, "Packard" (Patrician, 400)and "Caribbean" becoming a full line more like Fleetwood."

Was thinking the same, with Patrician designated as the more conservative version, which by the late 50's would have meant fixed B-pillar, full door construction with integral window frame, and a taller roof. Caribbean would cover the low-roof 2 and 4-door hardtops and convertible.


"This may leave a market gap between Mercury/DeSoto/Olds/Clipper and Packard/Cadillac 62. Maybe Executive is designated the Buick fighter, but based on what platform?"

The factory needed volume for efficiency and didn't care too much which dealers and under which brands the cars were sold. This is where AMC could have helped, sourcing Packard for its middle market Hornet and/or Ambassador. AMC would pay for the design and tooling of its unique sheet metal and would be required to always come in measurably below Packard in content, specs and MSRP. Packard would build the cars and supply the engines, transmission and chassis.

Packard dealers wanted a mix of luxury and volume cars but when push came to shove they invariably chose volume, which is why the company sometimes needed to pressure them to pull their weight with the Seniors. I think Packard, historically, invited cannibalism of its Seniors by its Juniors when it did't dial in enough daylight between the two.

By the mid-50's would rather have seen the mid-market Packard-built car sold by a different dealer network under a different brand, and source AMC for Packard's 1956 Clipper. Unlike 1953-5 when the Clippers were clearly Packards and customers howled when the Packard name was removed, the year 1956 in this alternate scenario would have been the perfect time for Nance to create Clipper as a stand-alone brand. Like Packard, Clipper would come to be known for quality - but now executed in a breezy, more carefree way... for common folks who aspired to something unique and advanced but still financially accessible. Sell these people a Packard-built large car approaching this price and they would no doubt get a bigger car, but the interior would be cheap and there would be no bells, no whistles and no "taste of luxury." Such a car would only remind them of how poor they were compared to "real" Packard owners.