Re: Clippers at the Motor Muster.

Posted by Mahoning63 On 2015/6/27 21:19:18

'56 Packards carried over to '57 would have sold maybe 5,000 - 10,000 units. They were too tall and the sedans had outdated greenhouses when 4-dr hardtops were all the rage. Best thing to have done would have been to reopen Conner and Utica and run off 5,000 copies in Aug or Sept '56 then shut down for good. This might have eliminated the need for the Packardbakers. And if sales were strong, run off 5,000 more in early '56.

Had the Packardbakers been needed I agree that Ford would not have wanted to buy Studebaker so a deal would have been needed to have Studebaker supply cars for a year or two. I think the deal could have worked had Ford thrown money at S-P. This would have been a drop in the bucket for Ford. Stockholders like it when people give them money. If it meant Nance going to Ford and taking Packard with him, I don't think Studebaker shareholders would have cared. Doesn't seem like any of them held out any hope for Packard's return. I think Packard in mid-'56 could have lived on had The Deuce wanted it to, it really came down to that simple reality. I wish he would have taken them. He needed them.