Re: SP merger

Posted by Rusty O\'Toole On 2015/4/6 15:23:06

I was aware of the difference in width and wheelbase of Packard vs Studebaker. To widen the Studebaker body would cost too much.

My idea was to make up the difference in the fenders which had to be changed anyway. We are talking about 2" on each side. Notice how the Packard's rear fenders bulge out while the Studebaker tapers in at the rear. Making Packard style fenders and using production Packard tail lights would give the required width. For the front, the fenders would have fully cut out wheel wells with flares, sports car style. With Packard headlights and grille. It might have been better to make wider fenders with a scoop effect at the back as seen on some sports cars like the Corvette and Curtis 500.

It would also have been necessary to make new door skins without the distinctive crease. Studebaker did this later anyway.

For a sport model, interior room would have to be sacrificed in the interest of style, both height and width.

Comparing the specs of the Clipper chassis which has the same wheelbase as the Lincoln Continental, and the Studebaker body I believe it would have been possible to make a low production "halo" car to compete with Continental, Eldorado,Chrysler 300, and Jaguar. Whether it would have sold in sufficient numbers to make a profit is another question.