Re: We haven't had a good "What If?" for a while, so.....

Posted by Mahoning63 On 2012/3/31 20:59:22

Great photo mod, JD! And HH56 makes a sobering argument about the critical role of mgmt. Over at GM it really wasn't Earl by himself, it was him and Sloan and others acting in concert. But it is enticing to ponder this Misterl what-if.

I am of the opinion that Packard's wheels, or at least a few lug nuts, started to come off in 1938 rather than the 40s or 50s. This is based on the hard historical fact that the 60 Special changed the industry fundamentally, particularly the luxury car segment. In one sweep of Bill Mitchell's brush the traditional touring sedan was done. Perhaps the question becomes, which Mister would have reared his head at Packard in the late 30s? The one who directed this breakthrough new sedan shape or the one who laid an egg with Cadillac's '39 front styling? If the former, and Packard rather than Cadillac came out with a lower, wider 3-box sedan for '38, or even just a LeBaron Sport Brougham style produced at a reasonable price, then Packard's final pre-war years would have been total domination of the luxury market. Had Earl instead left the '38's overcabbed touring sedan bodies alone and instead tacked on a drooping needle-nosed abomination up front, then Packard would have limped in pretty severe pain until the war.

IMHO Packard mechanicals were always top notch through most of its history. Only in '51-54 did horsepower fall behind. It was body styling that held them back from '38 to '41-1/2 and a combination of odd body styling elements and the entire front appearance from '41-1/2 on. Earl would have helped avoid those body elements, not sure he would have helped improve the front appearance, it wasn't really his strength.