Re: Here's a barn find that's NOT a Packard...

Posted by Mahoning63 On 2013/10/9 20:51:45

Thanks for mentioning the Lancia Astura, had never heard of it or seen it. Nice car.

While Europe dug out of the war the Americans, particularly GM, had vast resources to throw at body design and it showed, the '48 60 Special being a great example. The Big 3 seemed to maintain their lead well into the Sixties with the advent of squared-off lines. But it does seem ironic - and this is just one humble opinion - that the Italians, like the rest of Europe, understood the importance of a vivid, distinct and clearly defined grill... an item that Packard could arguably have benefited from. The American approach to post-war frontal design was to throw some chrome here, slats there, chicken wire over there, dead black spaces everywhere and mix it all up like one big train wreck.