Re: 1955 Packard No Engine Number?

Posted by Loyd Smith On 2008/10/26 7:58:24

The Utica plant was built with manufacture of engines for American Motors, probably some future manufacture of engines for the Studebaker line,the Twin-Ultramatics and, of course, the J-47 jet engines contracted for the U.S. Government (at the time that the plant was planned and built). While some engines could've been built elsewhere, one would think it highly unlikely taking into consideration the relocation of the assembly line to the Connor Plant for the 55th series cars. Even with the standard practise in the industry of the day of making production look more impressive than it really was, there is no evidence that PMCC inflated their engine production figures. The Utica numbers were, in all liklihood, merely a way to keep track of production and, as someone else stated, the appropriate vehicle numbers were added at the assembly points for Packard, AMC (Nash-Hudson)and the marine and industrial customers would've had their own system of further numbering engines for their purposes.

Just my take on what is known, you understand, but makes sense.