Re: IMHO, the 1950s Packard designs have held up well...

Posted by HH56 On 2008/10/28 17:58:30
I think Packards reputation for stodgy was based on their always conservative philosophy and the demographic they were made for. A lot of it carried over from the prewar styling where they were finely equipped luxury cars, but stylewise, maybe not as low or long or flashy as some of the competition because that is not what their buyers wanted.

Postwar, the same was true as others updated to what was considered a more modern look while Packard updated but held back. I think the same was as true then as today; that being you didn't want to drive your fathers car. While Packard was aimed at the conservative banker and corporate raider types, their sons wanted flashier cars, hence the reputation.

There was a commercial some years back that went approximately "When bulges were in, Buick did them better than anyone, and then boxy came in vogue, so Buick did it again and now when sleek is in, Buick is at the forefront." Each time showing a representative car.

Packard was there too, just not as extreme anywhere along the evolution.

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