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Packard V-8
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Home away from home
 
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When did development work begin on the Packard V-8 engine?? Seems I read they had considered it for introduction in 1954.
John
Posted on: 2015/12/8 12:03
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Re: Packard V-8
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Home away from home
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So when was the Hugh Ferry era?
Posted on: 2015/12/8 16:21
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Re: Packard V-8
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Forum Ambassador
 
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So when was the Hugh Ferry era?
After Christopher resigned (Jan. 1950) and up until Nance was hired (May, 1952).
Posted on: 2015/12/8 16:38
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Re: Packard V-8
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Home away from home
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In other words they were kind of late to the ballgame.... The V-8 should have been in development after WW2, ready for the 1951 restyled cars. They could have dropped the 6 in 1948, bored the 282 a bit and continued with it and the 356 thru 1950......
John
Posted on: 2015/12/8 18:36
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Re: Packard V-8
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Home away from home
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Hi
Very late in development to the ballgame, too late in the marketplace to be competitive. Among the good reasons to read Robert J. Neal's last book Packard 1951-1954 are the detailed actions on V8 development from board of director minutes, year by year. Its well worth the time to read and be amazed by the decisions of the board. Steve
Posted on: 2015/12/9 9:17
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.....epigram time.....
Proud 1953 Clipper Deluxe owner. Thinking about my next Packard, want a Clipper Deluxe Eight, manual shift with overdrive. |
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Re: Packard V-8
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A V8 as early as '53 or even '52 would have been helpful but I very much doubt it would have changed the ultimate outcome, just too many negative economic and market forces both internal to Packard and external for them to overcome.
Posted on: 2015/12/9 10:26
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Re: Packard V-8
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Home away from home
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Quote:
A V8 as early as '53 or even '52 would have been helpful but I very much doubt it would have changed the ultimate outcome, just too many negative economic and market forces both internal to Packard and external for them to overcome. It's just a theory, but some of the 320/352 V-8 problems & Twin Ultramatic issues might have been worked out by the new '55 body styles. Also, the 374 would have come out by '53-'54.
Posted on: 2015/12/9 12:32
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Re: Packard V-8
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Home away from home
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Quote:
Well, it wasn't *that* late to the ball game. Buick was still using a straight eight until 53 and Pontiac did not have an OHV V8 until 55. What was inexcusable was the Packard engine and trans were put into production when half baked. Steve
Posted on: 2015/12/10 15:36
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Re: Packard V-8
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Home away from home
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Quote:
Agreed. Packard was too far behind the curve, in too many ways that were expensive to catch up. Trying to correct the obsolete engine, and obsolete production facilities, and lack of a body plant, at the same time, required more capital than Packard could muster, and Studebaker didn't help with any of those issues. Steve
Posted on: 2015/12/10 15:42
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