Re: Continuing the Packard

Posted by Mahoning63 On 2012/8/31 11:32:31

Fyreline - regarding your suggestion to include Kaiser, I didn't see any room for it in an already messy AMC/S-P relationship with too many models but do think there might have been potential to help Packard in lieu of a merger with Studebaker and/or AMC.

Since the Kaiser was designed by Dutch Darrin, who had a strong relationship with Packard pre-war, Packard might have acquired Kaiser's operations and cars (including the Kaiser Darrin sports car) for the purpose of creating a lower cost sub-model called the Packard Darrin. This would replace the "Clipper" model/brand.

The car would have basically been the early-mid 50s Kaiser with a lower, less bulbous greenhouse and conventional looking windshield and would have had a Packard 245 Six underhood until the V8 became available. Such a car might have fulfilled what Nance apparently wanted: a lower cost car to keep his dealers alive during economic downturns, and would have benefitted from a great name, sleek lines and lots of cache. It could have been built at EGB or alternatively Packard could have acquired Willow Run and eventually moved all production there. Unlike Conner Ave there would have been no shortage of space.