Re: Your Opinion Whether the New '57 Packard Vertical Grille Would Have Been a Marketing Hit?

Posted by Rusty O\'Toole On 2009/12/29 17:52:53

I regret to say Scott G is right. By 1957 it was too late no matter what they did.

Sales were already falling for the whole industry in 1956 especially in the upper price brackets. The big sales sensations were the Rambler and Studebaker Lark in the late 50s and early 60s, not to mention economy imports like VW Beetle and Renault Dauphine. Followed by the compact Corvair Valiant and Falcon.

Then the next big fad was muscle cars in the mid to late 60s followed by the gas crisis 70s.

Cars of the Packard type were out of date and out of demand. Lincoln and Imperial never sold enough cars to keep the doors open, only the support of Ford and Chrysler kept them alive.

Packard might have made it but only by changing out of all recognition and only if they made their move starting in the early 50s.

if they had merged with Studebaker in 1950 or 51 and the combined company really moved in the right direction they might have stood a chance.