Re: What SINGLE factor MOST contributed to the demise of Packard?

Posted by Ross On 2013/4/26 21:03:45

Please provide a reference for the "bigger gaudier Ford" statement you have entertained us with on so very many occasions. I labor under the impression the quote pertained to early fifties Lincolns.

Mr. Allison was a competent and innovative engineer and also a very gracious man. He developed a unique solution to a complicated engineering problem and presented it to several firms. Packard found it a feature worth the expense of development. Was it somehow less worthy because it wasn't developed by an engineer already on the payroll? The gee-whizz factor of automatic leveling was a fraction of the genuine benefits of this innovation.

Whether we agree with them or not, annual style changes were the norm in the automobile business and all-steel bodies were hideously expensive to retool. Amortization was difficult for the small firms--hence 7 years of step down Hudsons, 6 years of Farina-styled Nashes, Studebaker was stuck with some styling cues from 53 through 66, and of course our favorite firm ran the contour body for 6 years. People genuinely looked forward to new models every year and the ability to bring out something new-or at least lie about it convincingly-was viewed not only as innovative and up-to-date, but also a sign of corporate health.