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What do you think could have happened to Packard if Harley Earl had worked at Packard?????????

A 400 with BIG tail fins

I would have settled for George Walker.

Was never a big fan of Harley Earl's stuff.

Without a complete management change, I doubt there would have been any massive shift. Packard styling would still have been very conservative with incremental changes only. The then conservative management probably would not have had the desire to go the direction (or spend the money needed) as some of the GM offerings. That would probably have stifled Earl's creativity or at least his flair for some things. After Nance and team came along well, who knows. Earl's career was almost at the end and they still would have had the image to overcome.

One of the Packard advertising pitches in Earl's heyday was Packard styling evolved and not just change for the sake of change. "You can buy a new Packard today and not be afraid it will be out of style next year." That pretty much seemed to be the mantra.

EDIT. I like Walker but was never a fan of the early 50's Fords. Mid decade and later ones were much better. Engle would have been a good choice too. A slab sided Packard might be an interesting idea. I rather like the mid 60's Chrysler products. Probably too late in the game for him though.

I'd prefer the guy that did the spectacularly beautiful '56 Continental Mark II. Oh, wait... never mind.

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And there in a nutshell is why management makes all the difference. Think of the "what if's" had different priorities and direction been in place to keep and take full advantage of that talent.

Let's see... Harley Earl and Packard. A nice Packillac?

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Nice Dagmars.

Love the image....which will eventually totally confuse at least one respectable researcher and screw up Packard history in some odd way....

When I saw the 51 Packard I thought he did. It could not have been more like the 48 Cadillac if they tried. The only things missing are the egg crate grille and tailfins.

Then they left it alone for 4 long years with slightly different tail lights, while every other car company was bringing out something new and different every year.

Maybe if they had done something fresh and original between 1945 and 1955 they would not have gone out of business.