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

Posted by Mahoning63 On 2020/4/3 16:30:31

"So can we field a vehicle at Cadillac's price point and make a profit, assuming 30% of the current market's volume after 2 years?

Yes. Price would have to come in at or below Cadillac's price point, see yellow curve on graph. Why wouldn't it? Pre-war Packard didn't charge 100% more for a long wheelbase car that was identical in interior trim and engineering to standard wheelbase car, not even for the '38-42 lwb cars. Henney was not the solution to Packard's lwb problems, it was the problem. The bodies needed to be built in Conner and sent down the volume line for most everything. Division window install would be off-line.


Why will someone buy the Packard instead of the other three players? And what will Cadillac's reaction be if we succeed (they have the ability to slash price)."

Because it was the right car for the changing times. Just an observation but it seems the days of rich families being toted around by a chauffeur were coming to an end. It was the age of the owner-driver. But... also the chauffeur-driven professional business executive, some of whom even today get to work that way. I worked for two companies that provided this service as part of the package. The last was driven in an Escalade from what I heard. These folks don't need three rows of seats, its just them inside. Nor would Hollywood celebrities during the final years of the Golden Age. The car they got out of onto the red carpet had to make a statement. I think this Packard would have done just that.

Cadillac probably would have jumped in but Packard would have gotten there first, and with a redesigned car for '56 would have beat Cadillac in styling. I don't think Cadillac would have sustained lower prices on the Series 75, the exec in charge would have gotten fired if it lasted too long.