Re: Vintage Packards on the Street Thread...
Posted by Tim Cole On 2020/1/12 8:11:44
I'm willing to put up a cash wager as to the Clipper story being an actual taxi model.
Taxi models weren't anything special. They might have a few up fitted parts from heavier cars, but there were no specially formulated steels being used. That would drive costs up and fleet sales down.
Too bad that story didn't go into greater detail as to the service problems. Rotten in service percentages hit the operator three ways. Lost revenue, bank loan payments on out of service equipment, and payroll overhead to retain qualified drivers.
I'll bet the parts department was taking very poor care of the guy and the transmissions were falling out of those cars. GM, Ford, and Chrysler were using transmissions specifically designed for a column shift (read side loader) whereas Packard stuck with it's mickey mouse floor shift conversion.
The location of that picture does present a lot of questions and was likely a unique situation warranting a photo.
Attached is a period photo of a taxi fake being used in a movie. Probably an employee's car made up for the scene.
Attach file:
(40.63 KB)
Taxi models weren't anything special. They might have a few up fitted parts from heavier cars, but there were no specially formulated steels being used. That would drive costs up and fleet sales down.
Too bad that story didn't go into greater detail as to the service problems. Rotten in service percentages hit the operator three ways. Lost revenue, bank loan payments on out of service equipment, and payroll overhead to retain qualified drivers.
I'll bet the parts department was taking very poor care of the guy and the transmissions were falling out of those cars. GM, Ford, and Chrysler were using transmissions specifically designed for a column shift (read side loader) whereas Packard stuck with it's mickey mouse floor shift conversion.
The location of that picture does present a lot of questions and was likely a unique situation warranting a photo.
Attached is a period photo of a taxi fake being used in a movie. Probably an employee's car made up for the scene.
Attach file:
(40.63 KB)
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