Packard Forum Index » Studebaker Built Packards (1957 - 58)

Sitting here with Mrs. thinking about the soon to be here New year of 2018.
Then it hit me, this new year will mark the 60th anniversary of the last Packard rolling off the assembly line in South Bend. And in appreciation of our Detroit Packard owners, 62 years ago.

They've been out of business longer then they were in business. Crazy to think about.

Packard never went "out of business," they simply stopped making automobiles.

Hi

Mark your calendars on July 25th as a reminder to note the anniversary that day. There was no particular effort by the company on that day to mark the occasion. It was only the last day of 1958 model production of both Studebakers and Packards before shut down for conversion to build the Studebaker Lark. The announcement that the 1959 S-P line would include no Packards was made on July 13th, which has been erroneously assumed to be the last Packard production day.

Steve

Packard never went "out of business," they simply stopped making automobiles.

I believe Eaton Corporation, purchaser of Cooper Industries in 2012, is the current entity whose DNA contains remnants traceable back to Packard Motor Car Company. It's a long and tortured trail.

Since we're coming up on the 60th anniversary July 25th, this thread on the subject on The Studebaker Driver's Club Forum includes copies of the production build sheets for both the last Packard Hawk and Packard sedan, post #13 by Richard Quinn,

forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?106730-The-last-Packard

Also detailed are the trucks Packard-badged for export to Argentina, post #12. Mentioned in post #4 is the Today Show reported on the last Packard being built, likely shown the next day. Anyone seen this footage or have current access to it?

Steve

Did anyone come up with a clip of the Today Show coverage of the last day of Packard production? I m guessing it would've been aired on 7-28-58 ?
As 7-25-58 was a Friday I believe?
My brothers in law and I went out to my garage on 7-25 and drank a toast to my Packard and all Packard's 1899-1958.

Hi

Well, here we are, sixty years ago today at some hour during the workday, the last Packard automobile built under the auspices of the legal remnant of the original company drove off the assembly line.

Observe this anniversary in whatever way is most meaningful to you, maybe a nice drive in your Packard to a favorite scenic location with family and friends. Thanks to all who are doing so much to preserve these fine motorcars.

Steve

Hi

Here we are 61 years ago today, the last Packard rolled off the assembly line in South Bend. No fanfare, just the last day of production for the 1958 model year for all Studebaker and Packard cars. One wonders if any of the assembly line workers took note of the occasion of what was ending after 59 years.

Steve

As much as Studebaker-Packard was struggling, if anything they were probably wondering if they were going to have a job.
If Studebaker hadn't come up with the Lark idea I doubt Studebaker would have made another season.
John