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Question: Can anyone tell me what ever happened to the Packard name after the company went out of business. Does anyone own the Packard name today? I always wondered about it. Thanks in advance for any information.Packard name

Bob Rubin owned it in the 70s, when I met him, last I heard the outfit from Arizona that was trying to make (ugly) new Packards had the name. Since their demise it might be available again. The Packard Club (Packard Automobile Classics) owns the rights to the trademarks.

I believe it is in the hands of a Phoenix Az company that tried to market a car under the name.

I don't know if they are active but I thought I saw some recent web stuff.

I live in Phoenix AZ but I have never checked them out nor do I know the principals.

Jim

here's the website for it:

http://www.packardmotorcar.com/

here's another link to a story about the comeback of the Packard car company:

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2007/09/26/packard-motor-car-co-for-sale-may-have-a-buyer/

I hadn't looked at the website in years. It DOES look as if updated/fresh photos are on it now.

Wasn't the company up for auction on Ebay a few years ago?

Directly form the home page of the PAC website:
http://www.packardclub.org/

The Packard Coat of Arms, the Packard script, and the name, "Packard" are Registered Trademarks ? of The Packard Club (PAC).

And they do enforce those trademarks.

there is a CAD, guy there,

no wonder,,, its in limbo,,

Quote:
As well they should - lest they forfeit their rights.

However, keep in mind that those trademark rights extend only to a specific field of goods and services - as listed in each particular trademark's registration with the US Patents and Trademarks Office.

So, the club certainly can enforce its trademark rights for the specified version of crest and script for magazines, news bulletins, and decals, as well as the specific style of the word "Packard" for clothing, but that's about it.

What about Packard Electric? Same name, same founder. How can they say they own the Packard name?

That's a different company. The Ohio Automobile Company was formed in 1900 to build Packard automobiles. The name was changed to Packard Motor Car Company in 1902. PMCC moved to Detroit in 1903.

The Packard Electric company remained in Warren, Ohio. After the deaths of William and James Packard, PE was sold to General Motors around 1928.

And, PMCC =never= went out of business. They just stopped building automobiles. PMCC purchased the Studebaker Corporation 1954 (they called it a "merger), changing the name to the Studebaker-Packard Corporation. In 1962, the name was changed to the Studebaker Corporation; they were still the same surviving company. In later years the company merged with Worthington (becoming Studebaker-Worthington), and later merged with Wagner Electric.

For more information about the later attempts to revise the Packard name and car, read "Packard -- A History of the Motor Car and the Company, 1959 to 2008" in The Packard Cormorant #131.