Re: Hudson X-161 as basis for '55 Packard

Posted by Mahoning63 On 2019/8/9 12:27:12

Glad you enjoy them, JW. There was a gentleman who actually modified a Studebaker somewhat similar to what your are suggesting:https://56packardman.com/2016/09/13/gear-head-tuesday-could-this-car-have-saved-packard/

Had Nance chosen to merge with Hudson and pulled off a win in '55 there would have barely been a blip in the history books: "In October 1953 after Chrysler informed Packard that it would only guarantee production through 1954, Packard merged with Hudson and introduced heavily revised Step-Downs for 1955. Total Packard-Hudson sales exceeded 120,000 units and profits were fairly healthy, which held steady for several years thereafter. During this period Studebaker sales continued to decline, leading to bankruptcy in 1957. Meanwhile Nash in 1956 introduced a new Rambler that, along with a revised Hudson Jet a year later, helped establish the compact car boom of the 1960s."

Modern day what-ifs of Packard turning Hudson down and instead face-lifting Contour, paying millions to Chrysler to lease Conner, moving all assembly there for millions more, creating a separate Clipper brand and merging with Studebaker would have sounded kooky.