Packard Forum Index » V-8 (1955-56)

Just to remind us all...especially the 55/56 boys:
omorrow, June 25 (1956) marked the end of the line for Detroit-built Packards!

I'll put my antennas at half-mast.

Anyone have a PREwar date for the last of the greats ( i assume it was prewar)???

OR to put it another way:
Is there a broad enuf opinion or concensus that the last great Packards were the 160's and 180's???? Then therefore when was the last 160 and or 180 built???

Well, there should be some lively discussion today. I think that the "Greatest Packard of them all" was the 1956 models. Yes, despite quality control issues and innovations that proved troublesome, these were the most wonderful road cars Packard ever built and they beat the competition hands down. Of course ALL Packards get my respect and I fully admit that the Packards of the 1930's and early forties were our American counterpart to the Rolls Royce, except that they were even better automobiles.

Driving my Patrician on the interstate at 70 miles an hour in a sofa-sized seat with every power assist and surprising economy reminds me that Detroit hasn't really made any significant strides in the last few decades.

As we remember today, 56 years ago at the Conner Plant in Detroit, I can't help thinking about all the wonderful sounds of American enterprise suddenly silencing as that Patrician sedan rolled out on its way to Snellville, Georgia. And to, the thousands of displaced Packard workers--many of them third generations--who were suddenly on the Detroit streets without a job.

Long live Packard and the men who made 'em!

QUote:
"fully admit that the Packards of the 1930's and early forties were our American counterpart to the Rolls Royce, except that they were even better automobiles."

Yes. I'm in full agreement too. Therefore my original question as to what would be considered the last such Packard and even just approximate date of last manufacture.

Wish I knew and yes, an equally important date!

1942 Packard 180 Rollson all-weather town car, delivered end of December 1941.

What model/body style Packard was the very last one to roll off the line on July 25th, 1956 (which was 2 days after I turned 6 months old... )...?

Well the last car to roll out of East Grand would have been in Aug/Sept of 1954. The 55/56s would have rolled out of the Conner Ave plant.

It was JUNE 25th, not July 25th and as I indicated in an earlier posting, the last car was a 4-door Patrician which went to the Atlanta zone, Snellville, GA. See the photo in "The Cormorant", page 17, Autumn 2011 issue. Wonder if that car exists today?