Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Rusty, Thanks for the education.

How else do you learn but ask questions.



Sorry if they were blindingly obvious

Giz

Not obvious at all. It's not surprising that such obscure and let's face it, basically meaningless facts get forgotten over time.

More meaningless facts: I found a Popular Mechanics 1958 Cars Fact Book. If you have not seen one they are a sort of buyer's guide and a wonderful source of original information on cars as they were seen when new.

On the question of Ford vs Chev sales, quote:

FORD

Last year's story


Production- 1,674,343 (1957 model run) up from 1,468,733 in 1956

Sales- 1,024,831 (first 8 months of 1957)up from 923,454 in 1956

Position in industry- First in sales up from second in 1956

Summary- A highly successful year in which it dislodged its arch-rival Chevrolet from first place for the first time in years.

CHEVROLET

Last year's story

Production-1,552,747(1957 model run)down from 1,617,397 in 1956

Sales- 975,592 (first 8 months of 1957)down from 1,092,517 in 1956

Position in industry- 2nd in sales, Down from 1st in 1956

Summary- A so-so year, one in which it dropped to second place behind Ford for the first time in years, but one in which it sold remarkably well in spite of being merely a facelift.

PLYMOUTH

Last year's story

Production- 650,978 (1957 model year) up from 520,877 in 1956

Sales- 430,319 (first 8 months of 1957) up from 346,515 in 1956

Position in industry- 3d in sales up from 4th in 1956.

Summary- A highly successful year and one that proves beyond any doubt that the big-car look sells in the low-price field.

And because this is a Packard board,

PACKARD

Last year's story

Production- 4761(1957 model year) Down from 28,805 in 1956

Sales-4179 (first 8 months of 1957)

Position in industry- 18th in sales Down from 13th in 1956.

Summary- A disastrous year.

So, I was right about Ford vs Chev but wrong about Plymouth. They did increase their sales and improve their position from 4th to 3d but did not increase their sales as much as I thought.

Packard was about done for. 1958 would be their last year. Surprisingly, they multiplied their model range for this their last year.

According to the book they offered one model only in 1957, a 4 door sedan. For 1958 they added the Hawk 2 door sport hardtop, a conventional 2 door hardtop, and a station wagon to the line.

Hope I am not boring everyone.

Didn't realize so many unsold cars carried over then. Wonder what today's percentage is/was. Ford and Chevy sold about 62% of current production each. Plymouth did better but surprisingly, tiny by then Packard managed to sell 88% of production -- although that was only 16% of the previous year which in itself was bad.

Were the 57 wagons a late arrival after the book was published or was P.M. flat wrong. There must be a few hundred 57 Clipper wagons wanting to know.

I don't think the figures represent unsold units. I think they compare calendar year sales to model year sales. They only show the first 8 months of 1957 sales because the book went to press in September to catch the beginning of the 1958 model year and the latest sales figures were for August.

So, you are comparing a full year's sales for 1956 to 8 months for 1957. Unless you look at model year 1957 which began in September 1956 and ended August 1957.

Rather confusing I know.

The book says "last year Packard offered a 4 door sedan only" so the error must be theirs.

Hey Portlandon, Here's a pic with a Pack.

Giz

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Nice find Giz. But thats to be expected. It is Washington DC. Packards were made for upscale purchasers. Packard just couldn't compete with Ford/Chevy/Dodge or the more middle class aimed independents such as Rambler/Studebaker/Nash. I am amazed as I scan the pictures of car lots and street scenes filled to full capacity and not seeing one Packard. Shouldn't there be atleast a 50's clipper somewhere in a parking lot? On the road? 1940's pictures are full of 110's and Clippers but was it scarce to see a 50's clipper or Senior car on the road? I am only in my 30's, so I have no idea. Anyone around in the 1950's give an opinion?

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I know I know this is a rare one, I do see the point.

Giz

As to not seeing any Packards in parking lots, a lot depended on where you were. I remeber driving through Iowa on Route 30 in the early fifties. Every town had a selection of new and old Fords, Chevies and Plymouths, but the independents varied from town to town (most of which looked alike by the way). If the town had a Nash dealer there was a sprinkling of Nashes. The next town might have Hudsons or Studebakers. Towns with Packard dealers were rarer, but you would find them and then there would be a selection of new and old Packards. Few people would travel 50 miles to buy a Packard or other independent bedcause of the problems of service.

As a kid ( and a Packard nut even then thanks to my grandfather) in the 50's I don't recall seeing many Packards in my blue collar neighbourhood in Windsor , Ontario (across the Detroit River from where Packards were made). My next door neighbour briefly owned a '51 200 model in the mid 50's and it was a lemon which was hard to start in winter and was sold after one or two years when the valves burned out. My older brother had a buddy who owned a 1950 Eight. There was a 34 Victoria parked on a street, way across town that I would insist my brother take me to see on occasions when he would let me ride along to the A&W or HiHo. Gee I loved to look at that car! I recall my dad taking us to Niagara Falls in the mid 50's and seeing a small fleet of 46-47 Clipper Custom and Cadillac 75 Series 7 passenger limos used as tour cars. Packard just weren't a car you saw a lot of in the 50's.

Growing up in the '50s in a middle class suburban metro neighborhood just N of Baltimore, you didn't see Packards often. In our neighborhood of maybe 100 houses on 3 streets, of which I can recall the owners and their cars, (always having being obsessed with cars), of maybe half of that, I can recall only one Packard: a white and blue 55 Clipper about 5 houses away. I'd ride my bike around just to look at the cars in their driveways. Dad always had Ford wagons for our family of 6.