Re: Continuing the Packard

Posted by Fyreline On 2012/9/1 8:25:49

There's an interesting post by JW over on the 1966 Model thread suggesting that the agreement between Studebaker-Packard and Mercedes-Benz to market M-B automobiles in Studebaker-Packard showrooms might have leant itself to badge-engineering the large Mercedes sedans with Packard grilles in order to provide Packard with a quality product to sell. JW even provided an illustration of such a car, which is handsome if a bit dated looking. It raises the issue, once again, of "buying out" a Packard by utilizing an existing car and modifying it to become more "Packardesque".

Probably the most well-known of these schemes involved the French Facel Vega Excellence, a 4-door pillarless hardtop with suicide rear doors and what was referred to as "Gallic Thunderbird" styling, fins and all, on what was (for a European car) a large platform. The story is fairly well known, supposedly S-P officials approached Jean Daninos of Facel about buying Excellence cars without drivetrains, shipping them to Detroit, and fitting them out as new Packards. While I've seen a few different artist's renderings and some internal correspondence concerning the project, Jean Daninos said that no one officially approached him about such a project. I'm sure he would have liked the opportunity to sell even a small number of additional Excellences, so there's little reason to doubt him. Further lore concerning this project states that Mercedes-Benz objected to the scheme, feeling it would provide unwanted competition to it's own 300 sedan in S-P showrooms.

In a similar vien, how about the plan to purchase 1956 Lincoln bodies from the Ford Motor Company and perform a similar "Packardization, on them? Ford was reportedly willing to do so, and I've seen an artist's rendering that was very nice indeed. I always admired the 1956 Lincoln (not so much the tarted-up '57) . . . As a convertible with a Packard grille, cathedral taillights, wire wheels and a spectacular paint combination it could have made a convincing Caribbean.

But would it have been a Packard?