Packard Forum Index » General

The destruction of the Packard files was most unfortunate. I believe this purge began when Nance assumed head of the company. Out with the old, in with the new kind of thinking was the rationale behind this. I have copies of some drawings of what were to the the post-Clipper Packards. They were rescued by a designer there who has the originals. They are attractive looking styles, much more so than the '48-'50 design that replaced the Clippers. They are packed away now, but I'll send Kevin some copies when I get them out so that they can be posted. I think you will enjoy seeing them.

JW--the destruction of the files occurred after Nance parted company with Packard. He did, through associates he brought into Packard discontinue certain "historical" practices, such as stocking aparts for almost every Packard ever made. In the early 50s you could still go to a Packard dealer and get many parts for a 20s,30s up Packard. Nance's people stopped that, and scrapped a lot of parts friends of this list would love to have today.
Nance came into a company that was badly in need of advancement, and that was his job at that moment. I don't buy into the notion that every woe Packard suffered in the end was Nance's fault.

On the topic of your drawings, would you consider specifying in your will that those drawings be given to the Detroit Public Library's National Automotive Historical Collection (NAHC) after you shed this mortal coil?
Many people have historical documents and other pieces of history that will look to the uneducated or uninvolved like "so much of Dad's junk to be thrown away"
They have survived this long--could you consider insuring their survival for future generations?
I personally know of several person's collections of "stuff" they carted out of a chaotic place like a Packard MCC and the family threw it away, not knowing or caring if anyone had an interest.

Quote:

Dave,

Thanks, I knew I'd be set straight, in the future I'll try and refrain from commenting on matters I have little experience in. So let me do it for you.

Please Mal, don't turn introvert or go shy on us now. I've left a pretty fair trail of bloopers behind me along the way.

Quote:

Dave,

Doubt that will happen, since owning a Packard I seem to have left that persona behind.

I have some brief history of my Packard as there was a registration card in the glove box. I was very surprised to find this card in the glove because I am at the least the fourth owner of my 53.

My Packard was I am very sure was sold at Park Motors in Williamsport. The car was tilted on September 1, 1953 here in Pennsylvania. The owner of my Packard in 1969 Mary E. Baier 1184 Park Avenue Williamsport, Penna. Judging from the condition of the interior and the paint on the dashboard, I would say the car was stored inside most of its life.

John F. Shireman

Mr. Pushbutton, thanks for clarifying when the document destruction happened. As for the drawings, they are only copies, and while interesting probably have little value. I'll find out more details of their creation and salvation when I send copies to Kevin.

I do have copy of a rare May 1948 Tucker Topics. It was the official Tucker Corporation dealer publication. I would like to sell it to someone with an interest in Tuckers or to a collector of rare automobilia.

Update: I called the studebaker Museum and ordered the build sheet for my car. I got a call yesterday from them saying that they do not have the sheet for my model, that the sheets they have only go as high as "serial numbers that start with 5682" -- so I take it that we 400 and Carribbean convertible and hardtop owners are out of luck. Has anyone else had this experience?

Yes, they've told me that on more than one occasion over the years.

John -

It was over a decade ago when I first heard that the Stude museum had the production manifests in their archive for the 56th Series Packards - for all models EXCEPT the Caribbeans. I'm not sure about 55th Series, but suspect that they have nothing earlier than that.

In spite of the legend of how so much paper was shovelled into the incinerator back in 1956, quite a bit of good material survived - thanks to Dick Teague and others. Did you ever see the original stylist's rendering and scale model of the Predictor that was on display at the Henry Ford Museum? There's quite an interesting story behind that one.

Yet, I digress.

What I was leading up to was that owners of 1956 Caribbeans may not be out of luck as the production records for those cars do survive in the hands of a private collector.

As such, I'm wondering if whoever you talked to at the museum was mistaken. The questions that begs to be asked is whether anyone with a 5687 (Four Hundred) model has gotten a copy of the production record for their car from the Stude museum in the past. If so, perhaps they will post here.