Re: The "Packard Premium"

Posted by ScottG On 2024/4/30 0:09:15

Interesting thought as I've felt the same way at times. But I think the reality is just the result of supply and demand.

Between April 1964 and the end of the model year 1970, Ford produced over 2.5 million Mustangs. For those keeping score, that's 2.5 million cars in just six years and more than Packard produced in total. On top of that, the Mustang also shared many parts with the Falcon, Fairlane and Torino as well as their Mercury cousins. Add in all of the trucks and standard Fords and Mercs that shared powertrain components and the numbers increase exponentially. For that matter, numerous first-generation Mustang parts interchanged with Ford products all the way into the late 70's. Simply put, you have total parts production figures that simply dwarf what all of the independents produced in total.

Also, having worked extensively on a '68 Mustang, I can tell you first-hand that there is a huge variation in the quality of aftermarket parts for these cars. Can you get a $30 oil pump for your small Ford? You bet. Would you want to use it in your recently rebuilt 289? Likely not. Thus far, I have yet to experience that with Packard parts. While I'm sure there are some less than stellar products floating around, I've generally felt that I've received fair quality relative to the cost paid.

Since you're discussing parts for your '55, I would think that a better comparison would be with parts for a contemporary Studebaker or even Mopars of similar vintage. Their numbers were certainly greater than Packard's but neither cranked out the numbers that Ford or GM did at the time.