Re: Packard Request Dreamcar Article

Posted by John McCall and Mitch Parker On 2012/3/15 11:00:34

Your question is thought-provoking. Personally, I don't relish the somewhat "tacked-on" look of the traditional grille on the Request. I think some more integrated solutions could have rendered a better looking car. We have to realize that by 1955, the whole direction of car bodies had taken a much longer, lower, and definitely WIDER stance. Teague worked in the Packard cusps and the "feel" of classic Packard subtlety with his 55-56 stock offerings, I feel. The styling cues were actually adapted to Packard's final body as early as 1951.

No, I don't believe that the Request would have saved Packard, BUT all that that classic grille represented might have! An absence of quality control issues, no innovations that weren't thoroughly tested, a tight and totally professional dealer organization, consistent advertising and more of it...now all these things might have made a big difference. And then, there was that little merger with the South Bend boys...