Re: SP merger

Posted by Steve203 On 2015/3/7 12:55:05

So Nance acts:

- buys Hudson on December 1, 1953
- Investors agreeable to "Big Plan", see Nance as man of action, Mason as man of words only (...Mason furious!)
- all hands focus on 55's on common Hudson body shell with Panther's basic styling and proportions
- Hudson floorpan and unibody assembly carried over, jigs modified where possible, all else new

Not enough time. The existing senior Hudson platform had been around since 48. The way Frank Spring had designed it, it apparently was extremely difficult to restyle. Spring had also designed it with a very high beltline, resulting in small windows, while the trend in the mid 50s was to more glass area. A unibody platform for Packard and Hudson in 55, that was competitive, would have required time and money starting in 51-52.

The Packard platform was more in keeping with styling trends of the mid 50s. E Grand might have also been in better physical condition that Jefferson. Divert the differentiated styling elements that were planned for the Clipper to the Hudson, while the Clipper is upgraded to a short wheelbase Packard.

I really don't see a viable role for Studebaker. They could make a junior Hudson, to replace the Jet, but, in the mid 50s, there were not enough compacts being sold to keep the entire South Bend complex running, and, for reasons already discussed, it was impossible for Studebaker to offer a product that could compete with Ford and Chevy.