Re: How does a touring sedan differ from a sedan?

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2012/8/14 13:23:42

Is the term "touring sedan" significant when describing a 50's Packard sedan, for example? Or just a designation of a particular trim level?

Just a sales moniker trying to glorify the rather mundane work "sedan". In the postwar era it's only purpose was to distinguish a 4-door sedan from a club sedan or (in those years offered) a formal sedan. It doesn't distinguish trim levels either, they're identified by the model name, i.e. Eight, Eight DeLuxe, Super Eight, Super DeLuxe, & Custom.

Prewar gets a bit more complicated as there all manner of 4-door body styles. For example in 1934 the volume sedan was described as a "sedan for 5 passengers", or "for 5-7 passengers". Also there were club sedans, formal sedans, and of course convertible sedans and a variety of other 4-door closed cars in the custom body grouping. In 1934 and back "Touring" without the word sedan referred to a 4-door open car somewhat resembling a phaeton. To my recollection the word as applied to a sedan never designated whether or not it had a built-in trunk.