Re: 1954 Packard Patrician Sportster

Posted by 58L8134 On 2021/10/26 17:45:38

Hi

At certain times in automotive history, the public has been open to embracing new body styles. The decade after WWII was one of those times. In the lower-priced fields it was the all-steel station wagon, first the two door then the four door dominating with the rise of the suburbs.

The other major new style was the B-pillarless hardtop. The style embodies all the carefree spirit of a convertible without the drawbacks. Once the public had experience it in two door form, it wasn't a major conceptual leap to expect a four door version. This was an opportunity for the first carmaker to present such to the market, well before GM did in mid-1955.

As Paul has presented, the first step toward that ultimate four door hardtop could have been a hardtop-styled four door sedan with the same thin, chromed window frames, low-roof line and interiors found in the two door hardtops. It simply took the vision of designers and the willingness of management to make it happen.

Steve