Continuing the Packard

Posted by Fyreline On 2012/8/30 18:15:28

There has been endless speculation over the years concerning what might have transpired if the originally proposed Nash-Hudson-Studebaker-Packard merger had occurred. While certain economies of scale and top-to-bottom market coverage (and a more widespread dealer base) would have been positives, there would have been a lot of problem areas, involving numerous people, places and things. Who stays, who goes? Which plants make the cut, which ones don't? And perhaps most importantly, what exactly do you build?

Here's a great mental exercise in automotive historical fiction (Is there such a thing? Obviously this group thinks so.). It's time for the 1955 models to be introduced. The new American Motors Corporation, after months of hard-fought negotiations, consists of Nash, Hudson, Studebaker, & Packard. Give a brief overview of the new company. Who runs what, what plants do they use, and what do they build? For some extra fun, you may throw what's left of Kaiser into the mix as well.