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

Posted by Steve203 On 2015/2/24 2:04:14

Nance's idea is to merge Packard with one or more of the other independent auto producers, most likely Nash-Kelvinator. It was on the understanding that he could tackle something like this that Nance took the Packard job."

Well now. That squares with what Nance told Langworth in 73, including that his joining Packard was with the understanding that he would execute the mergers. Nance told Langworth he would not have taken the job just to run Packard.

As I recall from the Langworth Hudson book, Nance said he was told of the "grand plan" by Hugh Ferry when he interviewed for the Packard job. Supposedly Ferry was tight with a banker that was tight with Mason and had heard of the plan via that grapevine.

Doesn't explain why, then, Nance and Packard blew off merger proposals from Hudson and Nash, especially if Mason was the source of this grand plan.