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

Posted by Tim Cole On 2013/10/16 8:17:41

By the 50's Cadillac was outselling Studebaker so Packard was in the dust.

The Twin-Six put Packard on top of the world, but it lasted only 8 years before it was replaced by the straight 8. The first straight 8 was kept for twice as long, and the second twice as long again.

Packard loved the fatter profits from this strategy, but the 29 crash killed the market. After that Packard didn't have the money to support the R&D to stay on top of the world. This was also reflected in their advertising which pretty much admitted that people drove Packards because they thought there were supposed to. The same way as going to church.

Given this situation Packard did pretty darn well.