Packard Forum Index » Post-War (1946-54)

There is an interesting Kodachrome posted today on the Shorpy site today of a Packard taxi in Times Square. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attach it so here is the link if you are interested in seeing it.


http://www.shorpy.com/node/23240?size=_original#caption

Love those old Kodachromes, wonderful color saturation!, thanks for posting. I believe the opening rear window was a taxi-only feature. Likewise the rear luggage rack.

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My pleasure and thanks for your post on the power rear window. I wasn't aware of that feature before. Wonder if anyone tried using it as a variable pitch high speed spoiler. Perhaps Guscha has some info.

Hi Stephen

Thanks for posting the link to the complete photo, I had saved this partial image at one time which is only the cars on the street, hadn't seen it in context.

This glimpse of the era shows what serious competition Packard-Federal was up against when it came to selling taxis, there are a half dozen Desoto Sky-View cabs visible at just this moment.

Steve

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Thanks for posting the NY taxi picture. It is the best picture I have seen of one. I have the remains of one like the picture. Maybe this will inspire me to do something with it and start to assemble it. I am pretty sure I have all the pieces to complete the project.

Yes, wonderful colors. -> That's the way to Kodachrome on Wikipedia.

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Instead of information related to this swing-up mechanism I could deliver the story of a Soviet swing-down mechanism but I don't want to dilute the Packard topic.

Stephen & Dave (O_D), thanks for impressive pictures.

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As far as mechanical durability/reliability goes, the DeSoto was a formidable competitor.

Hi

Here's another of a New York taxi in service which shows how rough most must have looked after a few years. DeSoto and Checker set the standards for tough, durable reliability. Taxis were a commercial market segment that most automakers gladly bypassed.

Steve

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Steve (58L8134), is that true? I know that this segment is hotly contested in Germany for decades.



source: montrealtaxi.com
Click to enlarge, click again to enlarge again!

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Hi Guscha

Automakers generally avoided the taxi segment because it was so cut-throat in pricing versus specifications. The vehicles had to have rough service components beyond what was supplied in general private sale vehicles and do so at fleet prices with little profit margin on relatively low volumes. Checkers and the Desoto Sky-Views were spec'd out to meet those requirements at fleet pricing.

Packard catalogued business sedans intended for the livery market, such as funeral coaches and company fleets for transporting important clients. The Harris Hill fleet would have been livery cars for upscale hotels, courtesy transport from the railroad station or airport, analogous to black town car service rather than the yellow/orange taxis plying the streets for fares.

Packards and other luxury cars in livery service were to provide courtesy transport by "The best hotels and other fine establishments to which gentlemen repair with no fear of embarrassment".

Steve