Re: 1955-57 What-If Line-Up

Posted by dadoc On 2010/12/1 17:25:20

I have been reading this thread with some interest, and like most people who love packard, have a few thoughts. To me, this biggest problem with styling and marketing was the similarity in size and appearance between the products...there was really very little externally to "move up" to with the upper range cars. That did change a bit at the end. Also, the lack of continuity in style hurt the image...perhaps moreso than the dogged clinging to the conservative lines in the late thirties did.

Packard might have been better off to have followd a more Cadillac like approach for the 1948-50 cars...put them all on the 127" wheelbase with the larger engine and use the shorter wheelbase for their intermediate (Clipper) range. The Custom could still have gotten the biggest engine. Also, I wonder if a little more length and bulk at the rear would have helped...look at the Lincoln Cosmopolitan...it does not vanish behind the passenger compartment when viewed from the front.

Also, from a marketing standpoint, I wonder why Packard did not look at the equipment levels and match Cadillac and Imperial, and use things like hydraulic window lifts to add appeal to the Patricians and earlier Custom Eights as they did with the 160s and 180s in '41 and '42. If you go to http//www.tocmp.com, they have added the 1942 Senior brochure which clearly shows that part of the difference between thse two lines was added equipment.

These are just a few thoughts i had and I would welcome your comments.