Re: Your Opinion Whether the New '57 Packard Vertical Grille Would Have Been a Marketing Hit?

Posted by LINC400 On 2009/12/29 13:45:58

I think it would have been successful with a verticle grill. As previously mentioned, it is easy to automatically compare it to the flop of the Edsel. However, that was different. The public was promised an all new unlike anything else on the road car. And got a Ford with a horsecollar grill instead. Rather disappointing. The Edsel grill was less attractive and overall had more awkward front end styling than the proposed 1957 400. Plus several insiders at Ford wanted the Edsel killed. It's first year sales were actually not bad for an all new division.

Packard on the other hand had been getting requests for a return to the verticle grill since 1951. The 1955 Request was a response to those requests, and was received favorably. The 1957 400 would have been much closer to the Predictor than any other concept cars from other manufacturers were at that time. And the Predictor was well received. Prewar senior Packard buyers most likely ended up buying 1957-59 Cadillacs. So those were not any less flashy than the proposed 1957's from Packard.

The 1957 Clipper proposal on the hand, I think is ghastly. I do not think that would have sold over much better 1957 Buick, Olds, Mopar, Mercury designs.