Re: What SINGLE factor MOST contributed to the demise of Packard?

Posted by Tim Wile On 2013/4/26 16:02:33

IMHO, Packard's final slide began post-war when it was determined to become a volume car maker rather than try and return to its prior niche as the premiere luxury car maker. After World War 2, Packard was in fairly decent shape financially. Had Packard tried to return to its roots making and marketing well-made, well-engineered luxury cars, Cadillac would have never left them in the dust.

Unfortunately, Nance's efforts to return some of the lost prestige to the Packard marquee by separating the Clipper and Packard brands was a bit too little too late and eclipsed by the dual mistakes of leasing the Connor Ave. plant from Chrysler and buying Studebaker.

Perhaps the biggest irony is that it was Studebaker, not Packard, the was selected by Curtis-Wright in '56 for saving and Packard was resigned to the dust heap of history.

A shame, perhaps, but that is how the market works.