Re: Packards by Region

Posted by PackardV8 On 2012/3/19 16:26:28

From post #1 above:
quote:
"Surprisingly, it appears that Packards were the overwhelming choice of Californians ... Michigan. Much of the midwest ... with Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois Ohio and Indiana.... Massachusetts, NY, New Jersey,and Pennsylvania and ultimately Texas ..."

Shit. Not surprising at all. Remeber Packard was an EXPENSIVE luxury car. The states u mention were rather very high income states due to high industrialization, union arms for grunt levels, "money Made the old fashion way" (i.e. inheritance) etc.

I'm in Tn with strong Confederate background as well as industrialized north background. I've heard many an old timer speak of how ruff it was in the south east as many had went to the north and Cali in the pre-war era just to get enuf money to buy a pair of shoes. OR they joined the service just get a suit of cloths that weren't thread bare and some teeth pulled.

Prior to the 1970's auto financing was mostly limited to those with very high collateral or damned good union pay job with a very recognized company. Trendy types at that time just didn't walk into a dealer and finance. They had to marry it.

One must remeber that prior to the mid 1950's, ESPECIALY the PREwar era that most of the vast regions of the US was basically something that resembled Wagon Train days. Only exceptions were concentrated pockets of prosperity in the states mentioned above.

However, it does surprise me that there are so many Packards especial 51-54 models here in the mid-Tn area. There was one dealer in Nashville (mid Tn area). But then again the West Nashville area is home to some of the OLDEST BIG money in the south probably 2nd only to Atlanta.