Re: "The Fall of the Packard Motor Car" book

Posted by Steve203 On 2014/7/28 16:52:02

I read it recently, and throughly enjoyed it.

Ward focuses more on the business decision making. The history of the company prior to the 50s is covered quickly.

As some here can attest, I am as much a factory and business geek as I am interested in Packard autos, so the picture the book draws of Nance being a salesman, and too reliant on advice for his decision making starts to come into focus. For instance, Nance had considered Hudson as a merger partner as the top line Hudson models fit, it terms of size and price, right below Packard and offered significant immediate synergies. Hudson even contacted Packard about a merger in August 53. But the consultants Nance had hired were telling him Studebaker was a better deal, so the board passed on Hudson and rushed into the Studebaker deal, and we know how that worked out.