Re: Packard Seniors 1940-56

Posted by Tim Cole On 2015/5/10 6:32:42

I've following some of this stuff and checked a few numbers for the Cadillac. For 1952, they claimed a 0-60 time of 17.1 seconds for the Cadillac 62. That's not much faster than the Packard. However, all the Packard tests are using a manual shift from low to high. So Packard really blew it by not having a program to upgrade the transmission.

I don't like Cadillac styling. They look like Buicks with fatter sheet hung on them. However, the 51-54 Packard grille is too heavy for my tastes and looks like a fish. When cars look like animals that is a styling negative (today they look like insects and are universally ugly). Although, I do think the 51-56 Packards are better looking cars than Cadillacs.

I think GM took advantage of prosperity and was getting their existing customers to upgrade to more expensive models. Packard really failed with their marketing by thinking they could return to the fat margins of the 1920's and that everybody secretly wanted a Packard. Granted, nobody could compete with GM and Ford's dealer floor plan programs, but companies like Packard were at a loss to figure out how to make their products desirable from a marketing prospective.