Re: PAC Cormorant - Focus on 1956

Posted by BH On 2007/3/3 22:17:44

Dave -

I did not attend, but get the impression that PAC's 206 National was more of a celebration of the Proving Grounds and the end of Packard's Detroit operations than the V8 cars themselves.

Rightfully so, as any Packard enthusiast can appreciate the Proving Grounds, but you also need to see it in action - and can thanks to factory films "The Way Ahead" (1940) and "The Watchdogs" (1954) and "The Safe Road Ahead" (1956) that have been circulating on VHS and DVD.

When I first became interested in Packards (thanks to finding my dad's old Executive hardtop rusting away in a field back in 1976), people told me to look to a fella who was regarded as the "Packard Expert" around these parts. First thing the guy told me was that they didn't make any real Packards after WWII; I didn't waste much more time with him. If he was trying to get me interested in prewar cars, he failed miserably. I never had much patience for anyone else of that or similar mind set.

I have no doubt that some sentiments have shifted as more people became interested in cars of the '50s (and there was $$$ to be made). Still, there are some hard-liners who just have it in for the postwar cars - especially anything made under the Nance regime.

There are great things to be found in every model that Packard made, and they put out some very interesting cars in those last years in Detroit. Although I didn't own a running V8 until 1987 (a '56 Patrician), I found it highly competent out on the interstate as well as around town. Of course, the V8 cars were not without their fair share of teething pains - like any vehicle out there with a lot of new technology.

Yet, I have to come clean and admit that some people might call me a snob 'cuz I don't consider the '57-'58 cars to be Packard - except in name/title only. Those cars were well-equipped Studebakers trimmed up to resemble a Packard - though less so for 1958. Personally, I would have rather seen the '57 clays (featured elsewhere on this site) make it into production.