Re: More on the Facel-Packard . . .

Posted by Fyreline On 2013/6/9 16:29:40

According to Wikipedia (now THERE's an unimpeachable source!):
"The new Continental's most recognized trademark, front-opening rear "suicide doors", was a purely practical decision. The new Continental rode on a wheelbase of 123 inches and the doors were hinged from the rear to ease ingress and egress. When the Lincoln engineers were examining the back seats that styling had made up, the engineers kept hitting the rear doors with their feet. Hinging the doors from the rear solved the problem."

I would have thought it would go without saying that any Facel-Packard would not be likely to use a Chrysler-sourced engine . . . Which begs the question, what V8 might it have used? The Excellence I saw had the 1958-spec 392 Hemi, which had about 380 horsepower in Chrysler 300D trim but was rated at 360 horses in the Excellence. I don't think that Facel ever moved up to the Chrysler 413, which was not a Hemi design but was still rated at 380 horses in 300E trim. They did use the 355-horsepower Chrysler 383 in their later cars. What did Studebaker-Packard have available at the time? The 1956 374 cubic inch Caribbean-spec Packard V-8 had 310 horsepower and that was about as good as it got. Studebaker's highest- output V-8 would likely have been the rare R3 supercharged 304.5 cubic inch job used in a few Avantis, but that wasn't really available until late 1963. It made 335 horsepower. None of these seem like an equivalent replacement for the Chrysler V-8. I wonder what S-P's plan was, if in fact a Facel-Packard was ever really considered? It seems to me that a car of this stature (not to mention size and weight - at 4230 pounds the Excellence was no lightweight!) would require at least 350 horsepower and commensurate torque , and Studebaker-Packard simply had no engine that fit that bill.

What motor would YOU have put in it . . . Or would you have tried to cut a deal with Chrysler to continue to supply their big V-8 for the car? Do you think they would do so? Fascinating question.

I have never owned a complete Packard on my own - at least not yet - although I have been part-owner of a couple over the years as they were fixed up and resold. The quality of construction always impressed me. My "dream Packard" would be a 1937 Super 8 Touring Sedan. I would love to have said a Twelve in the same body style, but that's a little over the top. A Super 8 will do just fine, thank you. For my money there was no finer 1937 automobile produced anywhere in the world. I have driven a few examples of the '37 Super 8, and most of its competitors as well. The Packard wins, hands down. Just my opinion, of course.